Ex Chelsea striker accuses Ronaldo and Messi of ‘robbing’ new generation of footballers

Former Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka recently made a striking statement concerning Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Renowned as the greatest footballers of all time (GOATs), Ronaldo and Messi dominated football for over a decade, collectively claiming an astonishing 13 Ballon d'Or awards.

Their era of dominance between 2008 and 2017 saw them sweep individual and team accolades, setting unfathomable records at a rate that seemed almost extraterrestrial.

Anelka accuses Ronaldo, Messi of robbery

Nicolas Anelka, known for his diverse career across multiple clubs, has expressed a bold viewpoint regarding the impact of Ronaldo and Messi's supremacy on the current generation of footballers.

He believes that the duo's overwhelming influence during that period has somewhat limited the aspirations of emerging players.

According to the Frenchman, Ronaldo and Messi's dominance has shifted the focus of young talents, deterring them from aspiring to become traditional centre forwards.

Instead, he contends that many aspiring footballers are inclined towards emulating the playing style of these iconic figures as right or left-wingers rather than natural number 9s on the field.

“Today, to find a number 9 there are fewer and fewer," he said on Disrupters as cited by Sportskeeda.

He continued: "The new generation was robbed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. And Messi and Ronaldo are two offensive players, but not number 9 attackers.

"All the young people identified with Ronaldo and Messi wanted to start playing either on the left or the right.”

Anelka slams Messi's slow start at PSG

In a related publication, Sports Brief reported that Anelka criticised Lionel Messi, highlighting that since his move to Paris Saint-Germain, the Argentine legend hasn't mirrored his Barcelona form.

Anelka, who had two spells at the Parisian club, commented on Messi's form, noting the disparity between his past performance and the current expectations, despite holding six Ballon d'Or awards.