Football debates always make for entertaining viewing and there isn’t a bigger one than the GOAT battle between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Whatever side of the fence you sit on, there are reasonable arguments for both sides. For many, Messi’s heroics at the 2022 World Cup, firing Argentina to glory, confirmed the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner as the greatest of all-time.
That said, some continue to back Ronaldo, pointing out his success in Europe with club and country. He’s also the greatest goalscorer the sport has ever seen.
Harry Kane is arguably England’s answer to the iconic duo, moving into legendary status every time he represents his country. His opinion holds weight and that’s why the Three Lions’ all-time top goalscorer’s verdict of Messi and Ronaldo is worth assessing.
Now that Messi and Ronaldo have left European football, other stars have stepped up and put their names forward for a Ballon d’Or win. Kane is one of them, having thrived at Bayern Munich last season and eyeing World Cup glory with England.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker probably won’t reach the heights of Messi and Ronaldo from their iconic duel in El Clasico. But he has played against Messi and Ronaldo during his career.
Asked which player he believes was better during their prime, he told Prime Video Sport in 2022: “I’ll go with prime Messi.”
Those comments came before Messi won the World Cup with Argentina later that year. The Argentine’s peak undoubtedly came at Barcelona, where he dazzled at Camp Nou and became the Catalans’ all-time top scorer.
Messi came up against Ronaldo during his time in Catalonia and the pair waged war for nine seasons in La Liga. Both have been irreplaceable since leaving Barca and Real Madrid, and Spanish football hasn’t quite been the same.
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It’s easy to just place Messi and Ronaldo in a league of their own. However, Kane’s exploits over the past year have been on a par with the numbers the pair produced at their peak.
Kane won the European Golden Boot after netting 36 goals in the Bundesliga and finished with an overall tally of 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern. It’s a ridiculous statistic that puts him above Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
For England’s skipper, it’s unsurprising as he previously vowed to reach Messi and Ronaldo’s level. He told Gary Neville on The Overlap back in 2021:
“I’ve still got so much more to give. I can produce better numbers than I’m producing at the moment. I’m not afraid to say, ‘I want to be the best’. I want to try and get on the level Ronaldo and Messi got to. That’s my ultimate goal – to be winning trophies season in, season out, scoring 50, 60, 70 goals season in, season out. The pressure from myself is always bigger than anything anyone else can put on me.”
The GOAT debate isn’t the only one taking hold in football today. Messi and Ronaldo’s absence from European football has made the Ballon d’Or race hard to call, and many believe Kane deserves to pick up the prestigious award.
Kane’s world-class exploits for club and country are also sparking debate over his status in the English game. Some think he is eclipsing the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton as the best player in Three Lions history.
Aston Villa are among the clubs who are eyeing a potential hijack of Newcastle, according to Fabrizio Romano.
According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa are among the clubs who are eyeing Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi.
Newcastle have agreed terms with Freiburg for the midfielder, but they are yet to receive the green light from Manzambi himself.
As a result, other clubs are lurking, including Aston Villa, and the decision lies with the player.
A decision to pull the plug on a deal for Ederson has led Manchester United to explore alternatives as they seek to overhaul Michael Carrick’s midfield.
Ederson had been set to join United in a £39 million deal after reaching an agreement with Atalanta back in May. As time passed, uncertainty grew over where the transfer stood, and the club have now decided against signing the Brazilian.
It appears that issues during medical assessments led the Red Devils to opt out of finalising the 27-year-old’s capture. The transfer chiefs appeared to pivot quickly and swooped for Andrey Santos from Chelsea in a £50 million deal.
The 22-year-old won’t be the only midfielder to arrive at Old Trafford, though, as a marquee signing is anticipated. One of the names on their shortlist has more than caught the eye during the World Cup.
United are looking elsewhere and are admirers of Morocco’s breakout star Ayyoub Bouaddi. A report from Eduardo Burgos claims that the club have been “following him since the start of the season and the World Cup.”
Bouaddi’s stock has grown amid a superb campaign in North America with his country, showcasing why he’s in such high demand. At just 18, he played with maturity and starred in games against Brazil (1-1 draw) and the Netherlands (3-2 penalty shootout win).
The club need to replace Casemiro, who has left following the expiration of his contract. They have missed out on top targets with Elliot Anderson joining Manchester City for £116m and Mateus Fernandes heading to Tottenham Hotspur for £85m.
Bouaddi is a press-resistant midfielder who can play as a six or an eight. His six-foot-one-inch frame gives him a physical profile, but he’s extremely gifted on the ball and ticks plenty of boxes for Carrick.
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Bouaddi might not be a marquee name per se, but he is undoubtedly one of the most promising midfielders in Europe. Currently at LOSC Lille, he’s believed to have some of Europe’s biggest clubs chasing his signature.
Liverpool are reportedly also eyeing the Moroccan, and a £100 million fee might be required. But he has been heralded as an ‘elite’ talent ready to make the move to a European giant.
United are looking to sign two new midfielders alongside Santos and Bouaddi is ideal to help with overhauling Carrick’s midfield. He could be a long-term fixture in the middle of the park and be a perfect partner for Kobbie Mainoo.
The report claims that Manu Kone and Alex Scott are also on the Reds’ wishlist and are viewed as alternatives to Ederson. If it comes down to a choice between the trio, Bouaddi is probably the most exciting option.
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