Manchester CIty striker Erling Haaland has claimed that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had "the perfect rivalry", as he claimed the competition between the pair was a good thing amid his comparisons with Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe.
Norway's failure to qualify for the World Cup has meant that Haaland has spent the last month resting and recharging his batteries ahead of the second-half of the season. Pep Guardiola's side restart their campaign with a Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool on Thursday night, before a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds on December 28 sees them return to Premier League action.
Haaland's form will be pivotal to to City's success as the forward looks to continue a scoring record that so few could possibly match. Mbappe is perhaps the only other striker who could go toe-to-toe with the Norwegian, with the Frenchman scoring a sensational hat-trick in his country's World Cup final defeat to Argentina.
The pair have been tipped by many to replace Messi and Ronaldo as the next great rivalry, yet the 22-year-old was coy when asked about the comparisons between himself and Mbappe.
He told Norwegian outlet Viaplay : "It's impossible to say. I don't like to compare myself with others. I think you need to be your own player when it comes to that so I don't like to compare or anything with that.
"I think the media has been doing that with Ronaldo and Messi for the last 10 years and I think they've been pushing each other as well. I think it's been a positive thing. Barcelona and Madrid against each other. It's been the perfect rivalry.
"But I don't think about this, honestly."
Tondabowy
338
No player stand in a race with Messi I mean No player
akpanga
230
I agree 💯 that Messi is the goat and the most successful footballer ever but seeing people ranking maradona and Pele ahead of Ronaldo makes me believe that people just hate him for no reason, He has done enough to be recognized as the second-best behind Messi
Amgnonijunior
139
Haaland and Mbappe trying to wear Messi and Ronaldo shoe 👇👇
solosmon
94
good to hear
U.S.A3052497
71
Ronaldo & Mbappe vs. Messi & Haaland
rombikmtyz
48
okay
Joba1109
14
Ronaldo & Mbappe vs. Messi & Haaland
There is no player like Messi. Messi can score goals. Messi is a playmaker. Messi is a dribbler. The real GOAT.
Beckly
11
Even after winning world cup both of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo still behind Pele and Maradona, maybe you can compare them to Zidane and Ronaldinho
Tell me you don’t know football without telling me you don’t😂
Cebklstuz
11
I agree 💯 that Messi is the goat and the most successful footballer ever but seeing people ranking maradona and Pele ahead of Ronaldo makes me believe that people just hate him for no reason, He has done enough to be recognized as the second-best behind Messi
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Mbbape claims the South American football teams do not play any good football. Why are they topping the world's ranking chart? Shame on Mbbape!!! He has misidentified himself. He has to look for his country and play for them that is patriotism. You get good players around you who can easily win matches for you and still boast of your abilities while people also compare him to Messi who has no many names around him but can win three International accolades within a space of 2 years.
tundeeniola7
8
I agree 💯 that Messi is the goat and the most successful footballer ever but seeing people ranking maradona and Pele ahead of Ronaldo makes me believe that people just hate him for no reason, He has done enough to be recognized as the second-best behind Messi
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pele and maradona won the world cups in their era which rates them above ronaldo. when messi hasn't win the copa America you people said ronaldo has won the eorpean nations league which made him better than messi but when messi won it some said he's still nowhere match ronaldo. now that he has won the highest cup in the world ronaldo is not up to his match so also are the likes of pele and maradona. let ronaldo accept and congratulate his boss