Messi’s challenge: Carry Ronaldo-less La Liga
It would be easy to think Lionel Messi’s job got a little easier when Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid to join Italian champion Juventus.
Or maybe it got more difficult. Messi is the type of character who thrives upon a challenge, and there is no doubt his personal rivalry with Ronaldo spurred both to greater heights.
“This is one of the biggest challenges he has faced now,” former Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert told USA TODAY on Thursday. “It has been normal for Messi to have that battle with Ronaldo. Now the question is whether Messi can motivate himself to become the best again now that things have changed. I think he can.”
Kluivert, who played for Barcelona from 1998 to 2004 and the Netherlands national team for a decade, is an ambassador for La Liga and is in California this week to promote the league.
The debate over which of Europe’s heavyweight soccer leagues is the strongest is one that continues to run, with most fans arguing in favor of either La Liga or the English Premier League.
This summer’s International Champions Cup tournament, which begins Friday and features 17 games in the USA, will see three England-Spain duels. Manchester United squares off against Real Madrid in Miami, Tottenham faces Barcelona in Los Angeles and Arsenal meets Atletico Madrid in the event’s Singapore leg.
Kluivert has strong views on the matter.
“If you look at the important competitions in (football), they are won by Spanish teams,” Kluivert said, referring to the fact that Real Madrid has won four of the past five Champions League titles while Atletico Madrid has clinched the Europa League three consecutive times. “Also, La Liga teams had 11 players in the World Cup final. We have the best players from around the world. You see teams from other countries sometimes struggle in the Champions League because the standard goes up; Spanish teams don’t usually have that problem. When you watch La Liga, you are watching the best.”
While Ronaldo’s departure is a blow, there is a steady stream of talent heading in the other direction.
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois, both among the best players in the EPL, have been linked with moves to Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann decided to stay at Atletico Madrid, a choice that will help La Liga’s competitive balance.
“Cristiano was an unbelievable player for the league and it is a loss,” Kluivert added. “But it opens the door for others, and there are a lot of players ready to take that opportunity.”