9781422278284

WHO’S NUMBER ONE?

In the following chapters of this book, readers may quibble with some of the players chosen as the best versus those who have been left out.

In this current chapter, however, few that follow the game of soccer would argue that the choice of who is the number one soccer player in the world comes down to just two players: Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Lionel Messi plays as a forward on Argentina’s national team (known as the Albiceleste), making his first appearance for them in 2005 at age 18 during an exhibition match (a friendly) against Hungary. He scored his first goal for Argentina seven months later against Croatia, right before the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Messi turned 19 during that World Cup tournament, making his World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro eight days prior to his birthday. He scored his first World

Along with Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is considered to be one of the two best soccer players in the world

Cup goal in that match, 13 minutes after coming on as a substitute in the 75th minute. It was the sixth goal in a 6–0 win for Argentina. Messi made his first World Cup start in the next match, the last in the group stage against the Netherlands. He came on as a late substitute in the first match of the knockout stage, a 2–1 win over Mexico, but did not play in the quarterfinal elimination loss to host Germany.

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