Samuel Eto’o. [Photo: Courtesy]Barcelona Star Lionel Messi beat Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk to be named the Best FIFA Men’s Player of 2019 on Monday, but retired Cameroonian great Samuel Eto’o thinks none of these players deserved the gong.
Liverpool star Mohammed Salah. [Photo: Courtesy]Speaking on the sidelines of the Best FIFA Football Awards event in Milan, and before Messi was named the best world’s best, Etoo, who had played for Chelsea, Barcelona and Inter Millan during his primetime, boldly mentioned Egyptian Mohammed Salah of Liverpool and Senegalese Sadio Mane (of Liverpool too) as the players who deserved the award.
Sadio Mane. [Photo: Courtesy]“The best one for me is Mohammed Salah or Sadio Mane,” he said, and added while walking away from the short interview; “But they’re not here.”
Samuel Etoo’s answer on who is the best player among Ronaldo, Messi and Virgil. pic.twitter.com/ITXudLYoMl
With this result, which has left many football fans with divided opinions across the world, it is the sixth time Messi has been voted the world’s best, after wins in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
It is notable that the 32-year-old Argentine helped Barcelona win La Liga and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in order to stand at the best chance for the award.
