The World Cup is on and individuals have their favourite team choices for a tournament win. Which is your team?
Besides team support and possible reasons for supporting, are, appreciation for favourite players. Do you have a favourite player? Is it someone retired, dead or is it an active footballer? Pele, Maradona, Mbappe, Roberto Baggio, Zlatan, Thierry Henry, Ronaldo Nazario, Neymar… Who is your favourite player?
One of the longest and strongest football rivalries, at-least in our heads and one which seems to be pushed by the media, is between two of the greatest players of the sport; two players who have remained at the top for the longest – Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi started his accomplished club career with Spain’s Barcelona in 2004 and Cristiano Ronaldo began with Sporting Lisbon in 2002. Both players are overwhelmingly accomplished with many team and individual awards. They are also two of the richest individuals in the world.
While the two may not have animosity against each other, among the fans and the general public, there is a split as to who is the football GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). Who is your GOAT?
Now, for many people, they either like and support one or elicit energies that suggest hate for the other. Are you one of those persons? Have you ever heard folks talking about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? Do you feel the hate? Why do some feel that once you support one you ought to hate the other?
Personally, both Cristiano and Messi are two of my favourite players albeit I may be more appreciative of Ronaldo as a complete footballer, given his abilities to score with more parts of his body. Plus, there is something special about a footballer who is 41 years old and still is such a prolific scorer. The fact that his exploits include conquering several leagues, adds to his greatness.
Again, as a fan of good football, I also love Messi’s play. The moniker of “The Little Magician” is not a joke. Lionel’s playing may cause you to be repeating the same or even be drained of superlatives. He is most comfortable in a playmaker/attacking mid-fielder role. As someone who played competitive football (business house and division two), I am a real fan of both players.
What’s with the venom, however, for the other of the two that is not your GOAT? Can’t we all just get along? It’s as if there is manufactured hate which even seems threatening to any of the two who is not a favourite. Do like me and love them both. Why should I hate Real Madrid if I support Barcelona …and Arsenal if I support Manchester United?
With the internet, the world has become a global village. Our country men have adopted the approaches of others to pretty much despise a team that we do not support. Even Christians are doing this. For especially the Christians, does the aforementioned point of gravitating to hate on opposing teams and players substantiate Godfrey Williams’position, carried by June 16 Jamaica Star, that Christians should not watch The World Cup and generally, other competitive sports?
I am suggesting the emotion is hate because of how negative it is in the discussions and interactions when relating about our favourite players and teams. The same energy is also in our politics. Why can’t we just vote and not hate on the other leader? Express against what you dislike but to despise the individuals…? Why can’t you love both the Prime Minister and The Opposition Leader, simultaneously?! Arsenal and Manchester United?! KC and Calabar?! Messi and Cristiano? Regardless of who you have as your GOAT, why hate the other?!
Any goat you should despise is Azazel, the scapegoat, because, according to Matthew 6 vs 24, you cannot serve God and mammon (which is in principle, another master other than Christ), simultaneously. It is the scapegoat (Azazel) as per Leviticus 16 vs 10…the second goat mentioned in that chapter; it is on that goat which the originator (Satan), gets saddled with the sins of the world and cast out forever and ever. Leviticus 16 vs 8, however, speaks to the right and righteous lamb – Jesus – who was sacrificed for our sins. Through His sacrifice, we can access eternal life.
Therefore, it would be prudent to choose ye this day which to support!
