TRIBUNTERNATE.COM – Remembering the German football legend, Franz Beckenbauer, who passed away in Salzburg, Austria on January 7 2024.
The Bayern Munich legend nicknamed der Kaiser breathed his last breath at the age of 78.
Franz Beckenbauer once commented on two famous names in the world of modern football, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
He both praised the two players nicknamed La Pulga and CR7.
About Lionel Messi
Franz Beckenbauer praised Lionel Messi in 2012.
At that time, the Argentinian star became the first player to score five goals in a UEFA Champions League match.
Later, der Kaiser called Lionel ‘like a god’ and compared him to Diego Maradona.
“Messi is a divine player. He is like a god. He’s a genius. “When I saw him, I saw a very, very, skilled, very smart player, and his left foot was like Diego Maradona’s,” said Franz, quoted by the Daily Mail.
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Lionel Messi (left) at FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo (right) while still in Real Madrid uniform in the El Clasico match at Camp Nou Stadium, 6 May 2018. (AFP/JOSEP LAGO)
About Cristiano Ronaldo
Franz Beckenbauer also commented on Lionel Messi’s rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
In his column for Spanish daily AS during EURO 2016, he recalled Sir Alex Ferguson’s praise for the Portuguese striker.
“I will always remember the day I met Alex Ferguson, the legendary coach and manager at Manchester United where Ronaldo still played,” he wrote, starting the column (quoted via football365).
“Sir Alex told me: ‘Franz, you can’t imagine a player who works harder than Ronaldo. Whether before training, or after – day after day, he works on his dribbling, his free kicks. When talent, willpower and work unite hard, that’s when you become world class.'”
