The underwhelming two-year tenure of Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) seems destined for a bitter conclusion, as reviews recommend the Argentine maestro is poised to affix his longtime adversary Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
This surprising transfer comes mere months after Messi’s triumphant efficiency within the 2022 World Cup, making it all of the extra stunning and controversial.
For his legions of admirers, the talk about Messi’s proper to be thought to be the best footballer in historical past was formally put to mattress when he led Argentina to the title in Qatar in December.
But his profession on the highest stage in Europe seems to have completed poorly.
Messi was suspended by PSG final week for making an unauthorized journey to Saudi Arabia.
He has scored 31 targets in 71 appearances for the French champions. He is prone to win a second consecutive Ligue 1 title later this month however failed in his mission to assist PSG to a maiden Champions League triumph, struggling back-to-back last-16 defeats.
Barcelona had hoped to carry the 35-year-old again to Camp Nou, the place he received 10 La Liga titles and 4 Champions League crowns earlier than a tearful departure in 2021.
Instead, although, Saudi Arabia, frequently accused of sportswashing, or internet hosting the largest names within the sport to deflect consideration from its human rights document, will be capable of boast of getting arguably the 2 best gamers of the trendy period of their unheralded home league.
Ronaldo is taking part in for Al Nassr, whereas a supply near the negotiations who instructed AFP that Messi’s transfer to Saudi Arabia was a “done deal” stopped in need of saying which membership the Argentine will be a part of.
World Cup mission completed
The absence of a World Cup winner’s medal had lengthy been Exhibit A within the argument about why Messi didn’t rank above Pele and Diego Maradona in soccer’s pantheon.
But the case was closed with Argentina’s victory over France in final 12 months’s jaw-dropping World Cup ultimate in Doha.
In a glittering profession that has spanned three many years, Messi has received 37 membership trophies, seven Ballon d’Or awards, and 6 European Golden Boots.
There has been a Copa America title, an Olympic gold medal and a listing of scoring and statistical information that will by no means be crushed.
In his ultimate World Cup look, Messi scored twice as Argentina battled to a 3-3 attract additional time earlier than prevailing on penalties.
Not even Kylian Mbappe’s hat trick for France might upset Messi’s appointment with Destiny on a pre-ordained evening.
Whether Messi actually is the ‘best ever’ is a query that’s as futile as the reply is subjective.
Ranking greatness
What is simple, although, is that by the sheer quantity and vary of silverware, Messi has received greater than the opposite extreme rivals to his best of all time or “GOAT” standing: Pele and Maradona.
While Pele’s three World Cup triumphs stay unequalled, the Brazilian icon’s membership profession pales in comparison with Messi’s.
In his peak years with Barcelona, the Argentinian frequently scaled the head of European membership soccer within the Champions League – arguably a technically superior area than worldwide soccer.
Maradona, in the meantime, received just one World Cup and by no means lifted a European Cup throughout a membership profession in Europe, primarily remembered for spells with Barcelona and Napoli.
The counter-argument is that Pele and Maradona performed in an period the place gamers have been provided far much less safety than Messi and Ronaldo.
Pele hobbled out of the 1966 World Cup after taking one brutal sort out too many; Maradona was additionally subjected to roughhouse therapy all through his profession.
Maradona’s former worldwide team-mate Jorge Burruchaga is reluctant to check gamers throughout generations.
Burruchaga, the scorer of the profitable objective – arrange by Maradona – within the 1986 World Cup ultimate victory over West Germany, has mentioned merely that Messi is the best participant of his period.
“Win or lose, Messi is not more or less than Maradona,” Burruchaga instructed AFP throughout the World Cup. “Messi goes to be in historical past no matter occurs.
“Five players in the past 70 years can be considered the best in the world – (Alfredo) Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff, Pele, Maradona and Messi.”
The final identify on that listing is probably leaving the European elite for good, however Messi is but to finish a global profession that has already produced 102 targets in 174 matches.
Next 12 months, the Copa America within the United States might nonetheless present a becoming swansong.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
