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MUMBAI: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have achieved sufficient within the sport and could be thought to be nice as Pele and Maradona even when they have been to complete their glittering careers with out successful the FIFA World Cup, believes Portuguese nice Luis Figo.
“Profitable isn’t at all times relying on the standard of the person, it depends upon lots of different stuff,” Figo, who’s right here as a part of Viacom18 Sports activities’ professional panel for the World Cup, advised reporters on Saturday. “After all is extra prestigious for those who win a World title or a European title, however doesn’t suggest that their profession or what they did prior to now was not historical past in soccer. So depends upon each’s perspective.”
For all of the success and accolades Ronaldo and Messi have shared over the previous 15 years, soccer’s final prize has eluded each, the Portuguese and Argentinian superstars, ever since they made their World Cup bows at Germany 2006. With Ronaldo closing in on 38 and Messi, 35, each gamers are conscious the present version in Qatar could properly symbolize their final alternative to affix Pele and Maradona among the many pantheon of World Cup-winning legends.
“I do not like to check as a result of generations are totally different, soccer gamers are totally different, opponents are totally different, however I believe within the final 15 years they have been making an unimaginable profession. In the event that they win a World Cup, in fact, will probably be within the reminiscence ceaselessly however you can not neglect what they did prior to now,” Figo added.
From a statistical perspective, Ronaldo, who performed underneath the management of Figo on the 2006 World Cup, and would inherit the latter’s iconic quantity 7 jersey for the nationwide workforce, continues to make historical past. His penalty towards Ghana in a 3-2 win for Portugal on Thursday made him the primary male participant to attain in 5 World Cups. Going again to that 2006 marketing campaign, the place Portugal matched their earlier greatest end result (1966) in reaching the semifinals, did Figo probably think about Ronaldo would go on to change into one of many sport’s all-time greats?
“You can not predict something however you possibly can see in that second, that he had lots of expertise, that he may obtain huge issues,” he mentioned.
Returning to the current, though the previous Barcelona and Actual Madrid star charges Fernando Santos‘s Portugal as “among the best groups within the competitors by way of expertise”, he had no hesitation in naming Brazil as his favourites for the title. “Now we have an excellent workforce, superb gamers who play in one of the best golf equipment on the planet…Portugal can win, in fact, however Brazil is the strongest workforce,” he mentioned, expressing his admiration of the Selecao’s scintillating second-half exhibiting towards Serbia of their opening fixture on Thursday. “They performed very quick, have been very aggressive with the ball and with out the ball. They created rather a lot with their offensive sport. However it’s not solely about that sport. When it comes to gamers, they’ve two groups and in a contest like this, that is essential.”
Although star striker Neymar is dominated out of the remaining group fixtures with an ankle damage, Figo mentioned the perceived setback may properly work in Brazil’s favour going into the knockout levels of the match. “He can relaxation,” Figo grinned, “and be match for relaxation (of the match). I do not know the way arduous the damage is and the way he’ll come again. After all, you can not put one other participant with the identical high quality as Neymar, however they’ve so many prime gamers on the bench that if he rests for 2 video games after which comes again recent, it may have essential worth for Brazil.”
The previous Ballon d’Or winner welcomed the performances of Asian groups, who’ve lit up the opening week in Qatar, as he reserved reward for Carlos Queiroz‘s Iran. “It is good for soccer, for different confederations to have this success. I am very joyful for Iran as a result of the nation is passing by a troublesome state of affairs and I’ve one among my greatest pals teaching Iran, so I am joyful for him. I do know the difficulties they will need to have needed to put together.”
“Profitable isn’t at all times relying on the standard of the person, it depends upon lots of different stuff,” Figo, who’s right here as a part of Viacom18 Sports activities’ professional panel for the World Cup, advised reporters on Saturday. “After all is extra prestigious for those who win a World title or a European title, however doesn’t suggest that their profession or what they did prior to now was not historical past in soccer. So depends upon each’s perspective.”
For all of the success and accolades Ronaldo and Messi have shared over the previous 15 years, soccer’s final prize has eluded each, the Portuguese and Argentinian superstars, ever since they made their World Cup bows at Germany 2006. With Ronaldo closing in on 38 and Messi, 35, each gamers are conscious the present version in Qatar could properly symbolize their final alternative to affix Pele and Maradona among the many pantheon of World Cup-winning legends.
“I do not like to check as a result of generations are totally different, soccer gamers are totally different, opponents are totally different, however I believe within the final 15 years they have been making an unimaginable profession. In the event that they win a World Cup, in fact, will probably be within the reminiscence ceaselessly however you can not neglect what they did prior to now,” Figo added.
From a statistical perspective, Ronaldo, who performed underneath the management of Figo on the 2006 World Cup, and would inherit the latter’s iconic quantity 7 jersey for the nationwide workforce, continues to make historical past. His penalty towards Ghana in a 3-2 win for Portugal on Thursday made him the primary male participant to attain in 5 World Cups. Going again to that 2006 marketing campaign, the place Portugal matched their earlier greatest end result (1966) in reaching the semifinals, did Figo probably think about Ronaldo would go on to change into one of many sport’s all-time greats?
“You can not predict something however you possibly can see in that second, that he had lots of expertise, that he may obtain huge issues,” he mentioned.
Returning to the current, though the previous Barcelona and Actual Madrid star charges Fernando Santos‘s Portugal as “among the best groups within the competitors by way of expertise”, he had no hesitation in naming Brazil as his favourites for the title. “Now we have an excellent workforce, superb gamers who play in one of the best golf equipment on the planet…Portugal can win, in fact, however Brazil is the strongest workforce,” he mentioned, expressing his admiration of the Selecao’s scintillating second-half exhibiting towards Serbia of their opening fixture on Thursday. “They performed very quick, have been very aggressive with the ball and with out the ball. They created rather a lot with their offensive sport. However it’s not solely about that sport. When it comes to gamers, they’ve two groups and in a contest like this, that is essential.”
Although star striker Neymar is dominated out of the remaining group fixtures with an ankle damage, Figo mentioned the perceived setback may properly work in Brazil’s favour going into the knockout levels of the match. “He can relaxation,” Figo grinned, “and be match for relaxation (of the match). I do not know the way arduous the damage is and the way he’ll come again. After all, you can not put one other participant with the identical high quality as Neymar, however they’ve so many prime gamers on the bench that if he rests for 2 video games after which comes again recent, it may have essential worth for Brazil.”
The previous Ballon d’Or winner welcomed the performances of Asian groups, who’ve lit up the opening week in Qatar, as he reserved reward for Carlos Queiroz‘s Iran. “It is good for soccer, for different confederations to have this success. I am very joyful for Iran as a result of the nation is passing by a troublesome state of affairs and I’ve one among my greatest pals teaching Iran, so I am joyful for him. I do know the difficulties they will need to have needed to put together.”
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