One of the main reasons many Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City fans choose Messi over Ronaldo is because Ronaldo once played for Manchester United.
Football rivalry is powerful. Rival fans will always find any reason to dislike or downplay a great player simply because he played for their rival club.
If Ronaldo had played only for Spain or in any league other than the Premier League, many of these English football supporters would have chosen Ronaldo over Messi.
Considering how great Ronaldo is, and the fact that he was the only player who truly challenged the system, you could say he came to save the football world.
To be honest, if Ronaldo had never been born, FIFA & FIFA Princess might have fooled us all.
“Gyokeres is the missing piece”
“What Arsenal needs is a striker that can bag 25+ Premier League goals and Gyokeres is that guy.”
“Gyokeres is better than Haaland, just that he's playing for a small club.”
The above quoted statements were just a tip of an iceberg in the grand scheme of the Gyokeres hype we were flooded with before he made it to the Arsenal.
The most painful part of the Gyokeres hype isn't in the fact that he's tipped to be Arsenal’s only missing piece by those who thought they knew better than Arteta because he was banging goals in Portugal.
It's not that. It's in the fact that we still have Arsenal fans who think he's as good as Haaland and to some, even better and that we are only not seeing that because he's not getting exceptional service.
But to the few who truly understand this game, you need not tell them that Gyokores is ten rungs below the level where Haaland stands and can never come close.
No amount of service will bring him close to tying Haaland's shoelace.
“Gyokeres is the missing piece”
“What Arsenal needs is a striker that can bag 25+ Premier League goals and Gyokeres is that guy.”
“Gyokeres is better than Haaland, just that he's playing for a small club.”
The above quoted statements were just a tip of an iceberg in the grand scheme of the Gyokeres hype we were flooded with before he made it to the Arsenal.
The most painful part of the Gyokeres hype isn't in the fact that he's tipped to be Arsenal’s only missing piece by those who thought they knew better than Arteta because he was banging goals in Portugal.
It's not that. It's in the fact that we still have Arsenal fans who think he's as good as Haaland and to some, even better and that we are only not seeing that because he's not getting exceptional service.
But to the few who truly understand this game, you need not tell them that Gyokores is ten rungs below the level where Haaland stands and can never come close.
No amount of service will bring him close to tying Haaland's shoelace.
Before Mikel Merino scored against Portugal, in this photo, we can see some players already celebrating before he put the ball into the net.
For sure, they knew his quality. They knew he wouldn't miss that chance.
But my question is, where were the Portugal defenders?
For sure, this guy is very intelligent.
Now I understand why Mikel Arteta decided to use him as a striker instead of a midfielder.
This guy is very intelligent when it comes to staying unmarked in the box.
Every Portugal supporter knew they were not going to win the title, but they still hoped for one last dance with Ronaldo to bring them joy. However, despite the quality of the names in the squad, the team looked disjointed, with every player playing for himself and showing no real commitment to the national jersey.
Bruno Fernandes, the Premier League's best playmaker, managed to provide Ronaldo with only one meaningful pass throughout the tournament. João Neves, at the very beginning of the competition, made statements saying that Ronaldo is just an ordinary player like everyone else. Who are you to say such a thing when Ronaldo's legacy is greater than your age?
A coach who doesn't even master the basics of football is in charge of some of the world's best players—but only on paper.
Some may ask: why should the entire team play for Ronaldo?
Because Ronaldo is the one who built Portugal's football history. Without him, the national team would have had only a handful of supporters, apart from those who followed it because of Luís Figo.
On the other hand, the Argentine national team has not only done this in this tournament but has been fighting for Lionel Messi since the previous tournament. In contrast, Portugal's players seem to be fighting to make Ronaldo lose.
You may think this is an exaggeration, but it is the reality we have lived through. We witnessed Ronaldo's greatest years, beginning with UEFA Euro 2004 and continuing for more than two decades, as he wrote his name into football history as one of the greatest players the game has ever produced.
Despite Portugal's defeat, and despite Ronaldo's exit, we are proud to have lived through the era of a legend named Cristiano Ronaldo.
Thank you for every moment of joy you gave us. Today, we share your sorrow, because we are not only your companions in moments of triumph—we also stand with you in moments of disappointment. So, for one last time, we say: Thank you, Ronaldo. And goodbye to the Portugal national team, whose only supporters left will be Bruno's wife and João Neves' mother.
Before Mikel Merino scored against Portugal, in this photo, we can see some players already celebrating before he put the ball into the net.
For sure, they knew his quality. They knew he wouldn't miss that chance.
But my question is, where were the Portugal defenders?
For sure, this guy is very intelligent.
Now I understand why Mikel Arteta decided to use him as a striker instead of a midfielder.
This guy is very intelligent when it comes to staying unmarked in the box.
Arsenal was doing business with Manchester City when we were no longer competing for trophies. We sold them our best players back then because our focus was finishing in the top 4 which I think Man City too will be focusing on from next season and not winning trophies.
I believe that buying Erling Haaland for £200M is better than buying Morgan Rogers for £130M and Barcola for 80M. Erling Haaland can elevate the team even without signing another player.
Mikel Arteta should test Man City and Erling Haaland who knows he might have admired Arsenal because his national team captain plays for us. Right now he is the best player in Europe and there's no debate about it.
Just imagine Erling Haaland as our number 9 next season. We will win the league in December and the chances of winning the champions League will be higher. There is no team in the world which can say we don't need Erling Haaland because with him you are guaranteed goals.
What was Brazil thinking to appoint Carlo Ancelotti as their manager. Someone who had a team full of stars in his last season with Real Madrid and failed to win a single trophy.
Carlo Ancelotti tactics are outdated and can't win Brazil trophies. A manager who calls up Casemiro and Fabinho to play the midfield leaving young and energetic midfielders.
The same happened while at Real Madrid when he didn't trust Arda Guler because he was young and kept on benching him who later proved him wrong under new managers.
Brazil should sack him and go for Pep Guardiola before he joins another team if they really want to get back to the top.
Some Arsenal fans are incredibly ungrateful to Martin Ødegaard.
Dani Ceballos first joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid, but in the end, his performances were only average. When he returned to Madrid, Mikel Arteta went after a young, talented Martin Ødegaard, who was developing around elite players at the time.
Back then, Ødegaard was getting game time in era of Ronaldo, Benzema, Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Ramos, Varane, and Marcelo. Yet, after his loan spell, he decided to commit to Arsenal permanently. Just as Viktor Gyökeres famously said, "Arsenal or never," Ødegaard similarly chose Arsenal over a world-conquering club like Real Madrid.
He arrived at Arsenal when the club was in complete chaos. He pushed through trophy droughts and endured countless jabs from critics claiming he left a world-class team just to join a "bottling" side. Instead, he got better and better every season, fighting relentlessly for the badge. Although we fell just short of the title, the 2023/24 season yielded a higher points tally than last season title-winning campaign.
He has been consistently nominated for prestigious awards, including the Ballon d'Or, and not just once or twice. He entered the conversation alongside Kevin De Bruyne, consistently racking up assists. However, playing non-stop as our captain led to an injury last season, and all of a sudden, some Arsenal fans are throwing him under the bus. They are behaving like someone who has found a "new catch" and instantly forgotten every sacrifice their partner ever made for them.
Had Ødegaard stayed at Madrid surrounded by those legendary players, imagine how many trophies would be in his cabinet today. Even an average player like Ceballos has won 16 trophies with Madrid. Look at the respectful way Madrid bids farewell to their long-serving players. Yet, due to the hypocrisy of certain fans, some were actually happy to hear rumors linking Ødegaard to Galatasaray, actively trying to push him out of the club and turning baseless rumors into reality.
The scapegoating, criticism, and accusations mounted against him. Despite Ødegaard regularly creating chances for Erling Haaland at the international level, Arsenal fans are demanding he be sold just because our own striker isn't scoring. Look at goals Haaland scored against Brazil. Not against any average defender but almighty Big Gabi. Just one touches. It not just an easy goals and that is what a striker must be.
How can you be so quick to sell your loyal, long-serving captain without even giving him the respect of a proper farewell? The fact that your striker is struggling doesn't automatically make Ødegaard the problem. Arsenal is currently the biggest club in England but if the team's striker isn't performing, why should the captain take all the blame? When Ødegaard plays with Haaland for Norway, Haaland scores consistently. That alone should tell you the issue isn't as simple as some people make it out to be.
Some fans have forgotten everything Ødegaard has done for this football club and they're ungrateful forcing rumors to Galatasaray into reality because they don't like him. Odegaard deserves proper farewell and not push-out.
Arsenal was doing business with Manchester City when we were no longer competing for trophies. We sold them our best players back then because our focus was finishing in the top 4 which I think Man City too will be focusing on from next season and not winning trophies.
I believe that buying Erling Haaland for £200M is better than buying Morgan Rogers for £130M and Barcola for 80M. Erling Haaland can elevate the team even without signing another player.
Mikel Arteta should test Man City and Erling Haaland who knows he might have admired Arsenal because his national team captain plays for us. Right now he is the best player in Europe and there's no debate about it.
Just imagine Erling Haaland as our number 9 next season. We will win the league in December and the chances of winning the champions League will be higher. There is no team in the world which can say we don't need Erling Haaland because with him you are guaranteed goals.
I see many thousands counterfeit complain on Big Gabby , but why did Guimareas missed that penalty, why Endrick didn't score that 1v1, our rivals fans and some Arsenal fans blaming on big Gabby because Brazil was eliminated .l think Gabby gave his best since day one, the other day both Gabbies carried Brazil in their backbone and those rivals who are criticizing him today were celebrating.
This was pure wrestling, Haaland didn't just come to play but his many mission was to bullie Gabby or he is bitter because Gabby won the premier league , he snatch it from him , when he thought he had won it,because this was not football at all, this man came for a revenge. We stand with Gabriel, Gabriel should know at the Midfield it wasn't Rice, it was retired Manchester united Casemiro, Saliba wasn't there, at the left and right back wasn't Calafiori and Timber.
one man can't carry all the whole Brazilian on his back, he needs the help from others, and from the start of the game, Brazil were scared, they left the ball for Norway, Norway was dominating everything on the pitch. Brazil was there to play low block and counterattack. So l don't see where Gabriel should be blamed, let them blame the coach who decide to sit back and let the Likes of Haaland and Odegard to took full control of the game. We need all our players to rest , we need them fully fit next season.
Some Arsenal fans are incredibly ungrateful to Martin Ødegaard.
Dani Ceballos first joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid, but in the end, his performances were only average. When he returned to Madrid, Mikel Arteta went after a young, talented Martin Ødegaard, who was developing around elite players at the time.
Back then, Ødegaard was getting game time in era of Ronaldo, Benzema, Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Ramos, Varane, and Marcelo. Yet, after his loan spell, he decided to commit to Arsenal permanently. Just as Viktor Gyökeres famously said, "Arsenal or never," Ødegaard similarly chose Arsenal over a world-conquering club like Real Madrid.
He arrived at Arsenal when the club was in complete chaos. He pushed through trophy droughts and endured countless jabs from critics claiming he left a world-class team just to join a "bottling" side. Instead, he got better and better every season, fighting relentlessly for the badge. Although we fell just short of the title, the 2023/24 season yielded a higher points tally than last season title-winning campaign.
He has been consistently nominated for prestigious awards, including the Ballon d'Or, and not just once or twice. He entered the conversation alongside Kevin De Bruyne, consistently racking up assists. However, playing non-stop as our captain led to an injury last season, and all of a sudden, some Arsenal fans are throwing him under the bus. They are behaving like someone who has found a "new catch" and instantly forgotten every sacrifice their partner ever made for them.
Had Ødegaard stayed at Madrid surrounded by those legendary players, imagine how many trophies would be in his cabinet today. Even an average player like Ceballos has won 16 trophies with Madrid. Look at the respectful way Madrid bids farewell to their long-serving players. Yet, due to the hypocrisy of certain fans, some were actually happy to hear rumors linking Ødegaard to Galatasaray, actively trying to push him out of the club and turning baseless rumors into reality.
The scapegoating, criticism, and accusations mounted against him. Despite Ødegaard regularly creating chances for Erling Haaland at the international level, Arsenal fans are demanding he be sold just because our own striker isn't scoring. Look at goals Haaland scored against Brazil. Not against any average defender but almighty Big Gabi. Just one touches. It not just an easy goals and that is what a striker must be.
How can you be so quick to sell your loyal, long-serving captain without even giving him the respect of a proper farewell? The fact that your striker is struggling doesn't automatically make Ødegaard the problem. Arsenal is currently the biggest club in England but if the team's striker isn't performing, why should the captain take all the blame? When Ødegaard plays with Haaland for Norway, Haaland scores consistently. That alone should tell you the issue isn't as simple as some people make it out to be.
Some fans have forgotten everything Ødegaard has done for this football club and they're ungrateful forcing rumors to Galatasaray into reality because they don't like him. Odegaard deserves proper farewell and not push-out.
Kieran Gibbs never burst onto the scene at Arsenal with superstar headlines.
He wasn't the biggest name in the academy.
He wasn't signed for millions.
He simply earned his chance.
Step by step.
Game by game.
And for a while, many believed Arsenal had found their long-term left-back.
Replacing Gaël Clichy was never going to be easy.
But Gibbs had everything you wanted.
Pace.
Energy.
A willingness to get forward.
And the technical quality to fit perfectly into Arsène Wenger's football.
When Arsenal attacked, Gibbs was always an outlet.
Overlapping the winger.
Stretching the pitch.
Delivering dangerous crosses into the box.
He looked like the modern full-back before that role became common across Europe.
But football can be cruel.
Injuries kept interrupting his momentum.
Just when he seemed ready to establish himself as one of the Premier League's best left-backs, another setback arrived.
Again.
And again.
Yet he never complained.
He kept working.
He kept coming back.
He kept fighting for his place.
Then came 2014.
Arsenal had gone nine years without lifting a major trophy.
The FA Cup Final against Hull City.
The pressure couldn't have been any bigger.
Just eight minutes in, Arsenal were already 2-0 down.
Then Hull nearly scored a third.
Alex Bruce's header looked destined for the net.
But Gibbs was there.
Right on the goal line.
One crucial clearance.
One defining moment.
Had that ball gone in, the final could have been over before Arsenal had a chance to respond.
Instead, Arsenal stayed alive.
Santi Cazorla sparked the comeback.
Laurent Koscielny levelled the score.
Aaron Ramsey completed the turnaround in extra time.
The drought was over.
A first major trophy in nine long years.
And Gibbs had played a huge part in making it possible.
He would go on to win two more FA Cups in an Arsenal shirt.
By the time he left in 2017, he had made 229 appearances for the club.
Three FA Cups.
Three Community Shields.
Not bad for a boy who came through the academy.
He was never the loudest player.
Never the headline maker.
But every squad needs players like Kieran Gibbs.
Honest.
Reliable.
Professional.
A Hale End graduate who gave everything for the badge.
Sometimes, football isn't only about the players who score the winning goals.
Sometimes, it's about the player who makes the clearance that keeps the dream alive.
That's Kieran Gibbs.
What's your favourite Kieran Gibbs memory in an Arsenal shirt? Was it the goal-line clearance in the 2014 FA Cup Final, or another moment that still stands out?