PSG forward, Lionel Messi 33, and Manchester United’s Christiano Ronaldo 36, remained the world’s two best players in 2021, despite passing soccer retirement age of 30.
Ronaldo and Messi, both left Juventus and Barcelona, last summer for their new clubs armed with goal, scoring records. Ronaldo netted 20 for Juve, while Messi scored 25 for Barca before they left. Since then, their previous teams have been racing down the league ladder.
Ronaldo has retained his superb form, scoring 13 times in 18 games for Manchester United. Messi hasn’t been that lucky. He has only contributed six goals in 16 matches for the French club. However, he has been more lethal in the Champion’s League, where he scored five in five matches. Messi just managed one goal in 11 games for the domestic league for PSG.
Nevertheless, Messi won the Copa America for the first time for his country, Argentina, a few months back, and with his great form before his aborted crisis – ridden transfer saga from Barcelona, the diminutive striker won his 7th Ballon d’Or Ball, to put him head, shoulder and above his rival, Ronaldo who has five in total.
However, for the year under review, the BEATS Board of Editors, having considered the impact of both players on the global soccer stage, their goal tally and current form, awarded Messi and Ronaldo the Joint Greatest Footballers of 2021.
Both footballers are still clearly the hottest superstars of the game, going into the New Year.
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