De Boer delights in a trio who are simply beyond all compare
RONALD DE BOER is typically forthright when placing the irresistible forces set to be unleashed upon Celtic Park on Wednesday evening in context. Put simply, this is a case of the greatest footballer in history playing in the best front line he has ever seen.
To suggest that the former Rangers and Barcelona attacker is a fan of Lionel Messi is putting it mildly.
Currently working in an ambassadorial role with Ajax, he often threatens the youngsters in their De Toekomst academy with the sack should they express any kind of preference for Cristiano Ronaldo over at Real Madrid.
He insists it is a joke. Favouring a man making the most of his talent through sheer hard work over Godgiven genius is clearly not the way of it, however, inside the club which provided the Nou Camp with another of its iconic, romantic figures in Johan Cruyff.
The Messi-Ronaldo debate, to De Boer, is barely worth wasting breath on. For him, Messi is not just the best of the modern era, but the finest player to ever grace the game.
That his talents are now complemented by Neymar and the lethal Luis Suarez in the ‘trident’ that delivered six of the Blaugrana’s goals in the 7-0 demolition of Brendan Rodgers’ side on Matchday One of the Champions League delivers an added delight.
There can certainly be no denying the potent synergy among the trio.
They contributed a total of 122 goals as the club won the treble of Primera Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League in their first campaign together in 2014-15 and scored 131 last term as Barca won the league, cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Prior to yesterday’s worrying 0-0 home draw with Malaga — which Messi missed due to an upset stomach — this season had delivered a combined tally of 33 from the trio. It seems inevitable they will break the century-mark again.
Certainly, their presence gives an extra edge to Barca’s third visit in four years to the east end of Glasgow. This could be an evening to tell the grandchildren about with De Boer clear when asked whether the triumvirate known as MSN represents the best attacking line-up he has witnessed down the years.
‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘These three are impressive.
‘At Ajax, our philosophy is Barcelona’s and vice-versa. I always joke with the youngsters at Ajax. Some are mad about Cristiano, who is also spectacular.
‘The ones who tell me he is better than Messi, I say: “Hey, we are at Ajax. If you think Cristiano is the best, you better leave Ajax”.
‘You cannot compare Cristiano to Messi. Leo is the best. He is more complete.
‘He is always there: home, away, in the league, in the Champions League. He scores, he assists, he beats players. He is impressive and does everything naturally. He is pure talent.
‘He is the player everyone wants to be. Cristiano is spectacular, but he doesn’t have Leo’s natural qualities.
‘Messi is the best in history. I watched Johan (Cruyff) and didn’t see Pele, but Messi, for me, is the greatest.
‘All the players of his quality have three or four good years, but he has already been good for almost 10. He is always in top form.
‘He is definitely the best I have seen in my life.’