Everyone has a time and every time has a person. That, no matter how great a man is, he will not always be great. There will come a time when he will return to normal. He was replaced with a new person who found his time.
This wise expression would be very appropriate to describe some of the stories from the 2022/23 Champions League competition, which kick off officially started Tuesday European time. There is something odd about the 2022-23 Champions League season. Because, for the first time in almost two decades, we can’t see the rivalry between the two best footballers, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the Champions League.
For almost 20 years, we are treated to their rivalry. It’s not just about the number of goals. But also who has succeeded in bringing his team to become champions. Then, won the Ballon d’Or trophy as the world’s best footballer. However, in the 2022-23 Champions League season, Ronaldo, who has repeatedly been the top scorer and has won five times, did not play.
Because, his team, Manchester United, did not qualify for the Champions League. In fact, in the Champions League last season, Ronaldo became the competition’s opening goal scorer. Of course, that’s ironic. Champions League top scorer but didn’t play. Only Leo Messi is still appearing with Paris Saint Germain (PSG). Although, his appearance is no longer as powerful as it used to be, one of which is due to the aging factor.
However, although the legendary rivalry of Ronaldo vs Messi in the Champions League is just a memory, now we are treated to the latest version. There is a rivalry between two young players who are predicted by the European media to be the main play on the football stage in the next few years.
They are Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. May we call this Mbappe vs Haaland rivalry as Ronaldo vs Messi 2.0. New version. Although, it is not easy to say who is Ronaldo’s incarnation and who is Messi’s successor. Because, Mbappe and Haaland, the way they play and the character of the two, tend to be more direct like Ronaldo in the era after 2010. No one is a ‘thinking footballer’ like Messi. Because indeed, players with a unique playing style like Messi don’t have KW.
Interestingly, this Ronaldo vs Messi 2.0 competition, meaning Mbappe vs Haaland, was immediately presented on matchday I of the Champions League this morning. Both immediately became the spotlight. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are considered the successors of the rivalry Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo. Because Mbappe and Haaland both seem to want to be compared. Compared who is more powerful among them. Both immediately appeared gacor in the first match of the 2022-23 Champions League group phase.
In the city of Seville, Spain, Haaland again showed that he was a goal machine who was on the heat with his new club Manchester City. Haaland scored twice in Manchester City’s 4-0 win over hosts Sevilla in Group G. Seeing the way he scores goals that doesn’t seem to have to be difficult, it’s easy to predict this 22-year-old striker will be able to score a lot of goals in the 2022-23 season.
In the 20th minute, Haaland welcomed Kevin de Bruyne’s cross through a tap-in which opened City’s advantage. In the 67th minute, Haaland mercilessly hit the ball vomit from Phil Foden’s shot which the Sevilla goalkeeper failed to save. Haaland seems to want to show that he is the piece of the puzzle that Pep Guardiola is looking for to bring City to an end to their years of curiosity about winning the Champions League.
With Haaland who looks easy to score every time the ball goes into the opponent’s goal even as if the ball is looking for him, Manchester City deserves to be a candidate for chasing the Champions League title for the first time. Meanwhile in Paris, Mbappe’s two goals brought Paris Saint Germain (PSG) to a 2-1 win over Juventus in the inaugural Group H match. Mbappe’s goals showed his quality as a deadly finisher.
Why are these two worthy of comparison and are predicted to continue to look fierce throughout the Champions League this season? The answer is not difficult. Mbappe and Haaland are typical fierce goalscorers with their respective advantages. Mbappe with running speed and finishing touch ability deserves 9 points. Meanwhile, Haaland is blessed with physical strength and body balance plus extraordinary goal instinct.
But, more than that, both of them are easy to score goals because they have a support system in their respective clubs that really supports them to develop and bring out their best potential. Mbappe is supported by two players who have the intelligence to play football above most humans on earth, Lionel Messi and Neymar. Both of them are not stingy to give assists for Mbappe.
Check out PSG’s first goal against Juventus which occurred in the 5th minute. Surrounded by Juventus defenders in front of the penalty box, Neymar poked the ball towards Mbappe. Then, with the speed and accuracy of the kick, Mbappe ran to greet the bait and then broke into the Juve goal with a hard kick.
Then, in the 22nd minute, Mbappe passed one two (one two) with Achraf Hakimi. The bait, which was previously agreed to be ‘forbidden’ in the PlayStation 1 game, then he finished with a slick goal. How about Haland?
At Manchester City, Haaland clearly feels more pleasure than at his old club Borussia Dortmund. As a striker, he is now very pampered because Manchester City have a line of midfielders with A quality.
There are Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, to Jack Grealish. All of them are typical of creative midfielders who are good at opening spaces and attracting opposing defenders to guard them, leaving empty space. One more thing, they are not stingy to give bait.
Don’t forget Pep Guardiola’s philosophy of playing fast, short passes. This style of play is very suitable for Haaland, who just needs to find the right position to receive passes and score goals.
In fact, so far, it seems Haaland doesn’t need to struggle to score goals. He does not need to run sprints from the middle of the field with opposing players to score goals. No need to bother carrying the ball to outwit the opposing defenders.
On this first matchday, if you have to compare, Mbappe vs Haaland is still even. And it is very possible, Mbappe vs Haaland’s rivalry in the Champions League will continue in the second week of midweek.
Both have the potential to add goals when referring to the opponents they face. Manchester City will play at home to Haaland’s former team, Borussi Dortmund. He clearly knows the outside in the strengths and weaknesses of his teammates.
Meanwhile, Mbappe and PSG will travel to Haifa City, facing Israeli club Maccabi Haifa. On paper, PSG’s quality level is still above Maccabi Haifa. Therefore, who knows how many goals Mbappe will score. Let’s listen to the rivalry between Ronaldo vs Messi 2.0 in the Champions League this season.
The rivalry that reminds us that Ronaldo and Messi are not young anymore so they are starting to be replaced by the younger generation. Including us who also continue to move towards dusk. Because everyone has a time and every time has a person.
ASL
