Recently in an interview with LFCTV Q&A manager Jurgen Klopp revealed, "I have one selfie on my smartphone. That’s with Messi. Cristiano was in the room, as well...”
It seems as though another famous football figure has joined the fray to decide who is the best player in the world. Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Although Klopp hints at favoring Messi over Ronaldo in this competition, he has also admitted nether of them is at the top of his list. In fact, it seems as though Brazilian superstar Pelé is at the top of his rankings, along with the rankings of many around the world.
Despite the main reason for this being Pelé's true and undeniable skill, Klopp would've also been influenced by Pelé due to Pelé being is his prime when Klopp would have been a kid. These days the young generation is inspired by Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, and younger breakthroughs such as Kylian Mbappe and Jadon Sancho. However 30 to 50 years ago the icons of the time would have been players such as Pelé, Eric Cantona, and Diego Maradona. Jurgen Klopp would most likely have been affected by Pelé and other such legends.
In his interview Klopp also added, "My father always told me, whatever people say in the future, Pelé was the best. I met him actually, when I was a pundit at the World Cup in 2006. I'm not the type of guy who gets nervous but I was sweating like crazy in that moment.”
We will see whether Klopp's position on this huge argument will stay the same, or whether it will be affected by a possible Liverpool vs either of the two stars in a future Champions League matchup. After all, Klopp has already tested himself against the likes of Ronaldo in the 2017-18 Champions League final in which he was defeated 3-1. For the time being, Klopp will have to focus on getting past Bayern Munich in the Round of 16.
Regardless of Klopp taking sides in a competition between players not of his own, Klopp has a lot to be proud of in his own team, Liverpool F.C. For example, defender Virigl van Dijk, a Dutch defender, has proven himself time and time again. His performance for and on the Red's has been so good that he is now considered to be one of the best defenders in the world. Although previously many considered Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid to be the better defender, the Red's have taken the number one seed in the English Premier League and that is mostly due to its strong and unwavering defense which is lead by Virgil van Dijk.
No matter whom Klopp decides to be the best, his opinion is sure to carry weight. However, no amount of influence can completely determine the question we all ask. Who is the best player in the world? It could be a current player, a retired star, or a young phenom yet to come, but one thing is sure. This is an argument that the world will never wholly agree upon.
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