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While picking his all-time lineup, Solanke, ignored Messi, giving more preference to those who have played in the Premier League.
Dominic Solanke. (X)
Tottenham Hotspur star Dominic Solanke seems to have taken his side in the GOAT debate featuring Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. In a recent interview with Mail Sport, Solanke was asked to pick his “Ultimate XI” based on the traditional 4-4-2 formation. The English start picked Ronaldo for his left flank, but Messi missed out. The Argentine superstar, known for his versatility, has played both as an attacking midfielder and a winger during his career spanning over two decades. Solanke, however, ignored Messi, giving more preference to those who have played in the Premier League.
The England international chose former Chelsea star N’Golo Kante and Manchester City legend Yaya Touré as his central midfielders, while Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah was assigned the right winger role. He then picked Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba for his two-man attack featuring a central forward and a goal-poaching striker.
Starting with the goalkeeper, Sonalke had no hesitation in mentioning Manchester United great Edwin van der Sar. The backline of his “Ultimate XI” would have Virgil van Dijk and Rio Ferdinand in the central defence, Kyle Walker on the right wing, and Ashley Cole on the left.
Recently, Manchester City midfielder Rodri picked Messi over Ronaldo when asked to choose the better player between the two rivals. “I have no doubt, Messi,” Rodri, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, said during an interaction with the Spanish TV show, El Hormiguero.
“Cristiano has managed to match Messi without innate talent. But those of us who played against them realise the difference. We didn’t want Cristiano to step into the box; he was lethal there. But with Messi, he happened everywhere on the pitch. The ball would come to Messi, and you’d say: ‘Danger’,” the Spaniard explained further.
Messi’s Inter Miami endured a heartbreaking elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup on the same day when Ronaldo-led Al Nassr lost the AFC Champions League semi-final to a Japanese side, Kawasaki. Both legends, standing at the twilight phase of their professional career, were unable to make any impact in their respective games. Messi and Ronaldo turned their back on European football in 2023.
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United Kingdom (UK)
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