“I Always Refer to Cristiano Ronaldo…” – Suspended 36YO GK Draws Lionel Messi Comparisons; Says He’s ‘Hungry for More’

The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is like no other. The major similarity between these two rivals is their hunger to achieve more. Messi has already won a whopping eight Ballon d’Or awards, while the Portuguese superstar has won the prestigious award five times. Between the two, CR7 and La Pulga have already achieved all that a soccer player can. And yet, late into their 30s, they’re still going strong. This feature of the legends highly inspired an African goalkeeper who was suspended from his club.

To explain his future in soccer, the goalkeeper used the references to Messi and Ronaldo. He cited their never ending hunger to keep going as his inspiration.

Suspended goalkeeper compares his zeal with that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune recently opened up about his lofty ambitions. To explain the same, he compared his soccer career with that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. As reported by idiskitimes, he said, “I always refer my story to Lionel Messi having won seven Ballon d’Ors [Messi has eight Ballon d’Ors] and he’s still hungry for more.”

He further added, “I always refer to Cristiano Ronaldo having won five Ballon d’Ors and he’s still hungry for more.” Khune admires how Ronaldo continues to break records in every league he plays, even after being in his late thirties. The 36-year-old wants the same energy and to continue to achieve tremendous success in his career, keeping the age factor aside.

Khune faced severe backlash from his current club after he appeared for training under the influence of alcohol. Following this, he was suspended from the club in early December. As reported by IDISKI TIMES, the club statement read, “At the conclusion of the Club’s rigorous disciplinary processes last week, the committee has taken stern action and decided that Itumeleng Khune should be temporarily separated from the team until certain conditions have been fulfilled.”

Nonetheless, the African has earned a place in the PSL All-Star XI against Stellenbosch FC in the Carling Black Label Cup this Saturday. Undoubtedly, he plans to achieve huge in his upcoming matches, just like Ronaldo and Messi.

A Common rival talks about the complicated legends

In the soccer world, there are majorly two sections: one that claim Ronaldo is the GOAT and the other who believe that honor goes to Leo Messi. Their common rival and Uruguayan Centre Back, Sebastian Coates, recently talked about the two legends and how he dealt with them on the field. According to Coates, both CR7 and La Pulga are equally dangerous opponents.

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He claims that the Portuguese superstar and the Argentine are the most complicated players, as they can score a goal before their opponent realises where the game is leading. Whenever Coates plays against Ronaldo, he makes sure that he won’t lose his focus, even for half a second.

Instances such as this and Itumeleng Khune’s statement illustrate the greatness of the Argentine and the Portuguese, both of whom are widely believed to be two of the greatest to have ever played the game.

What are your thoughts on the words of Khune and Coates? Let us know in the comments below.

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