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There seems to be an ongoing battle of supremacy that have spanned over a decade between two professional players of the round leather game.
Unarguably the finest of their time and arguably the greatest of all time (GOAT). The GOAT title has been hovering around their heads, without settling on anyone of them in particular.
The fans of the game in their usual mischievous manner have intensified the fight.
The media whose stimulation is the gullibleness of the masses has fueled the war, perhaps to get doses of orgasms from the fans' credulity. They often stoke up smoke without fire.
The question on whether a fight really exist between this two prolific players is yet to be answered. If there is any, then it is quite surreptitious as non of the football stars have ever been found throwing tantrums on another. On the contrary they have rather been caught, openly showering praises on each other.
That they admire the excellence in one another's performance is not a hidden fact.
On a Facebook post, one of them was seen relaying his son's frustration at understanding why people can not simply love the both of them like he (the son) does.
He admitted that his son loves the other player, who is often seen by many as his arch rival. In the post, he said that his son loves, appreciate and support the both of them. He also said that the little man wishes that everyone could do same.
He mentioned telling the son that everyone can't be like him, people are going to love who they want and the media is going to stage a fight between them to get people's attention.
well, I'm a fan of the taller person between the two great players. My love for him spans over a decade, infact it is only three years short of two decades.
I recognized how good he was in the year 2004, during Euro 2004 tournaments, which was hosted by Portugal, my idol, Cristiano Ronaldo's country home. The tournament was won by Greece in a final match against Portugal, the host country.
Greece might have won the cup, but Ronaldo won my heart.
I remember screaming in my then tiny childish voice in the large parlour of my aunt apartment in Lagos.
"who is this guy?" is all I could say.
A year later he was signed by Manchester United Football club in England. That afforded me the opportunity to watch his stunning displays, week in, week out, in the highly rated English premier league.
Far beyond my expectation yet to my delight, he hurriedly grew up to become one of the most talked about person in the game along side one other person.
It's been close to two decades of dominance by this two prolific players. A feat that has never been attained by any football player in the universe.
Even as they are approaching their 40 years on earth, where retirement is inevitable, it's sad to note that no footballer has stepped up in a bid to fill their shoes. Perhaps football will return back to normal after their departure.
Even now which is supposed to be their less glorious days, they still managed to win the golden boot (award given to the highest goal scorer in a football tournament) in their respective leagues and continents for their clubs and national teams respectively.
Unlike many fans, I recognize how incredible the both of them are. Desspite being a big fan of the taller man between them. I don't talk down on the greatness of the other guy.
But whenever an argument arises between fans of the both players as to which player is better, trust me to speak for my man on the most biased and sentimental way possible.
My knockout line is usually that fate has been so merciless on Messi (I just mentioned the other guy's name) have denied him a major national team trophy.
It was quite ironic that a man who have dominated the football world for over a decade had no national trophy to his name.
Infact the said person said this in year 2016 after after failing to win a national team trophy, despite playing four finals.
"the national team is over for me. It's been four finals, It's not for me. I tried. It was the thing that I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over". Lionel Messi.
Of course he was begged to return back to the national team. A plea he adhered to.
This year in the just concluded Copa America, Christ might have sent an angel to show Argentina (Messi's national team) mercy, as they beat Brazil by one goal to nil, with a goal from Angel Di Miria, to take home the trophy.
Finally fate has become merciful to Lionel Messi.
The Lion finally roared in his jungle.
What if he had given up in year 2016, as he proposed?
That he never won a trophy with his national team would've been a permanent stain on his clean record.
Just because he tried again, he had the chance to erase the stain and set the record straight.
Just one word for you
Try again, after you think that it's over.