“Weren’t Barcelona dependent on Messi?” - Vincent Kompany makes Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo comparison for 21-year-old Bayern Munich star
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany recently compared Jamal Musiala's situation at the club with that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively. His statements came in response to retired German legend Toni Kroos' comments on the young midfielder.
In a recent conversation on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, Toni Kroos claimed Bayern Munich were heavily dependent on 21-year-old Jamal Musiala for success. He said (via GOAL):
“I think it’s extreme how dependent Bayern is on him. Especially against good opponents. You can be dependent on a player. But it’s surprising how dependent they are on Jamal to even create chances.”
In response to Kroos' comments, Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany drew a comparison with legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He said (via GOAL):
“Weren’t Real Madrid dependent on Ronaldo? Weren’t Barcelona dependent on Messi? Jamal has so much quality, so it’s normal that a lot of things are being spoken about him. He’s definitely a special player and of course he’s important for us. But Michael Olise, for example, also has a lot of goals and assists. Of course there aren’t that many players with 15 goals, but the goals were shared between them.”
Jamal Musiala has risen to become one of the most important players for Bayern Munich. The German midfielder has contributed 12 goals and four assists in 19 outings for the Bavarian side across competitions this season. He is best known for his attacking prowess and creating chances alongside his exceptional ball control.
Ahead of his retirement from professional football in 2024, Toni Kroos shared the pitch with Jamal Musiala in 11 games for the German national team.
Ex-Real Madrid star Sami Khedira advises Vinicius Jr. to change his attitude to match Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's levels
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated football for over two decades, winning 13 Ballons d'Or between them. For the current generation, which includes the likes of Vinicius Jr., it is not unnatural to be drawn into comparisons with the two legends of the game.
In a recent interview with MARCA, former Real Madrid star Sami Khedira advised Brazilian superstar Vinicius Jr. to change his attitude to match Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's levels. He said (via Madrid Universal):
"He [Vini Jr.] seems angry many times. Cristiano was a bit like that when he was young, but he changed quickly. If Vinicius wants to be like Messi, Zidane, Cristiano, or Xavi, he needs to be a little more respectful with the opponent, with the referees."
Vinicius Jr. has a long way to go before matching the levels of Ronaldo or Messi. However, the Brazilian superstar seems to be in the right direction as he is often considered Ronaldo's successor at Real Madrid. The Brazilian also sports his iconic No. 7 jersey at the club.