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Marcus Rashford Named His 3 Greatest Players in Football History
Calum Ritchie
21 – 26 minutes
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Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford was once touted as one of the best players in world football after breaking onto the scene as a Manchester United youngster. While things haven’t gone quite to plan in recent years, the England international appears to be rebuilding his reputation during a loan spell at Aston Villa.
Finding his way back into the national fold under Thomas Tuchel, Rashford has become a key part of Unai Emery’s project at Villa Park after being frozen out at Old Trafford. During his time in the sport, the winger has crossed paths with some of the game’s greats.
But who does he rate as the best to have ever graced the turf? Well, Rashford answered that exact question during an Instagram Q&A with Bleacher Report (via Manchester Evening News). A former teammate made the cut in Rashford’s triumvirate of footballing greats.
Marcus Rashford Includes Former Teammate in Iconic Trio
Lionel Messi
Regarded by many as the greatest player the game has ever seen, Lionel Messi is one of the three GOATs in Rashford’s mind. The Argentine sensation holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or wins (8), with his closest competitor three behind.
The things Messi has done with a ball at his feet have bordered on ridiculous at times. From finding the back of the net 91 times in a calendar year to guiding his country to World Cup glory in 2022, there’s nothing left in the game that the 37-year-old hasn’t achieved.
Lionel Messi
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Rashford was linked with a move to Barcelona before joining Aston Villa on loan, meaning he narrowly missed out on following in the footsteps of Messi, who he clearly holds in very high regard. The Argentina international was a key part of perhaps the greatest club side in football history, Pep Guardiola’s Barca side of the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Cristiano Ronaldo
It’s no real surprise that Rashford’s hero, Cristiano Ronaldo, makes it into his top three players of all time. Growing up as a Manchester United fan, a young Rashford watched CR7 regularly light up the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ with his electric speed and dazzling technical ability.
No player has ever found the net more times than Ronaldo, who is closing in on the 1000-goal mark at the age of 40. To still be going strong for Portugal and Al-Nassr after more than two decades at the top of the sport is nothing short of remarkable.
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Similar to Rashford, the Portuguese icon started his career as a flying winger before moving central and adding versatility to his arsenal. The pair played together at Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag. Despite it not being the best spell of Ronaldo’s career, his return to Manchester hasn’t put him down in Rashford’s estimation at all.
Diego Maradona
With the modern-day greats Messi and Ronaldo dominating during Rashford’s childhood and into his playing days, there was one spot left open for a more historical figure to make the cut. Brazil’s greatest-ever player, Pele, missed out despite often being placed on the podium for these discussions.
Instead, Rashford opted for another Argentine legend in Diego Maradona. The late hero was a master of his craft throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s. His control of the football was something only Messi has ever come close to replicating.
Maradona was the poster boy of football in Argentina for decades, with his iconic appearance and silky ball skills standing out above a sea of talented players at the time. He was in a straight battle with Pele to be recognised as the greatest ever until Ronaldo and Messi came along years later. It’s clear which side of the fence Rashford sits on in that debate.
