[엑스포츠뉴스 김희웅 인턴기자] Is there really a generational change?
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) have been on the throne for over 10 years. Although they have reached the age of 33 and 36, they are still considered to be among the best in the world. Messi is scoring first in the Spanish Primera Liga this season, scoring 19 goals in 24 games. It has become duller than it was in its prime, but it is certainly alive.
Ronaldo also boasts an excellent sense of goal. He played 22 matches in Serie A in Italy, scoring 20 goals and is leading the scoring. He competes with 9-year-old Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) as the top scorer.
The personal skills of Messi and Ronaldo are still outstanding. However, they were recently eliminated from the European Football Federation (UEFA) Champions League (UCL) round of 16. Barsa bowed to Saint-Germain in Paris, and Juventus looked down in front of FC Porto. It’s awkward. The two failed to advance to the UCL quarterfinals for the first time since the 2004/05 season.
Killian Mbappe (PSG) and Elling Holland (Borussia Dortmund), who are believed to be the successors of their genealogy, settled in the quarterfinals. Mbafe led the team’s quarterfinals by scoring four goals in the two matches of Barsa and the round of 16. Holland also scored four goals in two matches against Seville.
As a result, the heyday of Messi and Ronaldo is over, and it is argued that the era of Mbafe and Holland has come. But Owen Hargreaves thought differently. I think it’s still difficult to compare.
Hargreaves said in an interview with BT Sports on the 11th (Korean time), “It cannot be denied that Mbafe and Holland are the best among young players. I also know that the level is high. But Messi and Ronaldo have been doing this for 15 years.”
He then affirmed, “We can’t talk until Mbappe and Holland do it for more than five years.” While acknowledging that they are playing at the highest level, it was a phrase that should be maintained for a long period of time.
I think there is also a difference in the level of the current team. Hargreaves said, “Mbafe and Holland performed well in the Champions League. But Ronaldo is on a weak team, and Messi is on a weak Barça that we have never seen before.”
Finally, Hargreaves said, “It’s exciting to watch these young players. But we have to respect Messi and Ronaldo’s long-term performance.”
[email protected] / Photo = AP/Yonhap News
Ⓒ Hankyung.com prohibits unauthorized reproduction and redistribution