Former Barcelona player Kevin-Prince Boateng recently shared a surprising story about his time at Barcelona in 2019. Boateng, who has since retired from professional football, revealed on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast that he felt pressured to declare Lionel Messi as the best player in the world during his brief stint at the club.
Boateng’s story is quite intriguing and sheds light on the dynamics within the Barcelona team during that period. According to him, shortly after arriving at Barcelona, he was asked who he believed was the best football player globally. Despite being a long-time supporter of Barcelona’s arch-rivals, Real Madrid, and having a deep admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, Boateng claimed that he had to lie and say Messi was the best player in the world to secure his place in the Barcelona team.
In his own words, Boateng stated,
“I remember that when I arrived at Barcelona they immediately asked me who the best player in the world was. I had to say it was Lionel Messi, I lied. It was one of the biggest lies of my life. Normally I always tell the truth, but I lied because it was the only way to wear the Barcelona shirt. I’m sorry for the Barça fans, but I always supported Real Madrid when I was a teenager. I love Cristiano Ronaldo. But they told me that I had to say that otherwise, I wouldn’t play.”
Boateng’s revelation raises questions about the culture and expectations within the Barcelona team at the time. It also serves as a reminder of the intense rivalry between two of the greatest footballers of all time, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
During his short-lived tenure at Barcelona, Boateng struggled to find his place in the squad. He made only four appearances and was left out of the Champions League knockout stage squad. Despite his limited playing time, he had the opportunity to observe Messi up close, describing the Argentine superstar as a “quiet guy” who didn’t engage in much locker room chatter. Boateng also shared an interesting anecdote about Messi in the showers, where Messi asked him about the difficulty of scoring goals in Italy, possibly referring to Ronaldo’s success in Serie A.
Boateng’s time at Barcelona might not have been successful in terms of on-field contributions, but he can forever boast of having shared the pitch with one of the all-time greats in the sport, Lionel Messi.
Now, in 2023, Lionel Messi finds himself in contention for the Ballon d’Or award once again, despite being 35 years old. Messi, who has already won the prestigious award a record seven times, remains a force to be reckoned with in the football world. His exceptional skills, vision, and goal-scoring ability have continued to dazzle fans and pundits alike.
However, Messi faces stiff competition for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, with two young talents, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, making strong cases for themselves. Haaland, in particular, has made a sensational start to his career at Manchester City, netting an impressive 20 goals in his first 13 Premier League appearances. Meanwhile, Mbappe, the young French sensation, has already achieved remarkable success, including winning the World Cup with the French national team.
The race for the 2023 Ballon d’Or is shaping up to be a thrilling one, with Messi attempting to secure his eighth title against the rising stars of football, Haaland and Mbappe. While Messi’s age might suggest a decline in his abilities, he continues to perform at a high level and remains one of the most influential players in the world.
In conclusion, Kevin-Prince Boateng’s revelation about being pressured to lie about Lionel Messi’s status as the best player in the world during his time at Barcelona provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of professional football. It highlights the intense rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo, as well as the expectations and culture within the Barcelona team at the time. As Messi competes for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, fans eagerly await the outcome of this intriguing battle among football’s finest talents.
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