The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 could be marking the end of an era as both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are done after Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain crashed out at this stage of the competition.
Former PSG forward Nicolas Anelka discussed on RMC Sport’s Rothen s’enflamme that Messi and Ronaldo could have better managed the end of their careers. The pundit also stated that he thought Messi would excel in Ligue 1 and that Ronaldo would struggle in his return to the Premier League.
“They have made their careers and I think they are both satisfied with what they have produced for fifteen years,” Anelka said. “I am more surprised by Messi than by Ronaldo.”
“I thought that Messi was going to stroll in the French championship and that Ronaldo was going to struggle a little more because the Premier League, for me, is a more difficult championship in terms of the impact on and around the pitch. I think that there won’t be any more players like that who will dominate world football so much. They’ve been above everyone for fifteen years; it’s logical to see them slowing down. It’s normal.”
🗣️💬 "Il aurait fallu être plus intelligents et choisir des challenges moins difficiles pour finir au top. C'est dommage."
Selon Nicolas Anelka, Ronaldo et Messi, auraient dû mieux gérer la fin de leur carrière. pic.twitter.com/57IP2kBTCB
— Rothen s'enflamme (@Rothensenflamme) March 16, 2022