Footballers who are in their early twenties today grew up being asked the question: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Here are four high-profile young stars who have proudly called the ex-Real Madrid talisman their idol!
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The age-old debate might be over in some supporters' eyes following Messi's exploits for Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but his success in Qatar is unlikely to change the way these six footballers view their childhood hero.
Mbappe and his Ronaldo posters
During a nine-year period from 2008 to 2017, Ronaldo celebrated five Ballon d'Or wins, firmly cementing his place among the greatest players of all time. The performances that earned him those individual triumphs would have been watched from all around the world by young kids hoping to become professional footballers, such as Kylian Mbappe. Today, the Paris Saint-Germain forward is himself regarded as one of the beautiful game's most talented stars, but was just 18 days away from his 10th birthday when Ronaldo scooped up his first Ballon d'Or award in 2008. Mbappe's admiration for Portugal's captain was such that he had his bedroom covered with posters of the former Los Blancos No. 7. Mbappe later went close to joining the Spanish giants prior to his breakthrough at Monaco in the 2015/16 season when he travelled to Spain to meet with members of the club, including Zinedine Zidane and his idol Ronaldo.
Martinelli, an Arsenal star who wants to be like CR7
If you've enjoyed the privilege of watching Gabriel Martinelli play and did not know that he very much bases his game on Ronaldo's, it is probably starting to make sense. Fast, fearless and direct, Martinelli has openly discussed his adulation for Ronaldo, despite playing for one of his former rivals in Arsenal. In 2020, the young Premier League star, who joined the Gunners from Brazilian club Ituano in 2019, declared that Portugal's all-time record appearance-maker was the player he always strived to replicate. "My idol is Cristiano Ronaldo. I admire him very much for the strength of will he has, for the way he works and for everything, for the individual and collective awards he earns. He is a guy who does not conform, always wants more. That is what I want for myself: to always be conquering things. He is an example," he said, according to football.london.
Vinicius Junior's cheeky Ronaldo celebration
Like the aforementioned Mbappe, Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior is another incredibly gifted young player who spent his early years looking up to Ronaldo and hanging posters of the ex-Manchester United star on his wall. The 22-year-old Brazil international today is following in his idol's footsteps at the 14-time UEFA Champions League winners, playing in an attacking role from the left, often cutting on to his right foot with mazy dribbles and skill. It is familiar, strikingly similar at times, to the way Ronaldo used to terrorise Spanish defences during his nine-year stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. Last month, in what appeared to be a fitting tribute to the man he hoped he would one day be able to mimic, Vinicius Junior celebrated a stunning goal he scored against Liverpool at Anfield in a UEFA Champions League tie by doing one of Ronaldo's newest celebrations.
Kvaratskhelia's confession
On course for their first Serie A title in 33 years, Napoli are playing some of the best football in Europe this season. Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has widely been praised as the man leading the club's historic charge, but he has a right-hand, or left-hand, man who has been equally as devastating. Georgia international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia joined Gli Azzurri at the start of the campaign and has gone on to contribute to 30 goals in 30 matches so far across all competitions, handing out sleepless nights to defenders with his speed and inventive skill. Unsurprisingly, he is another right-footed winger who prefers playing on the left side of attack, like the players already mentioned in this list and like his childhood idol. In a recent clip doing the rounds on social media, the self-confessed Los Blancos supporter was asked to weigh in on the Messi-Ronaldo debate, and answered by saying that, while he believes the Argentine "is top", he prefers Real's all-time record goalscorer, as per GiveMeSport.
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