Former Germany and Bayern Munich striker Mario Gómez provided fans with a scorching hot take and interesting debate.
Appearing on the podcast “Phrasenmäher”, Gómez made the argument that Manuel Neuer’s legacy is just as important to the sport as Lionel Messi’s.
"I would put Manuel Neuer on the same level as Messi in terms of importance in football history," Gómez said. "I don't know if we're all aware of what we experienced with a goalkeeper who revolutionized the game! We'll only understand this 20 years from now."
Does Gómez have a point?
Mario Gómez Neuer Messi debate
️ Mario Gomez: "I would put Manuel Neuer on the same level as Messi in terms of importance in football history."
"I don't know if we're all aware of what we experienced with a goalkeeper who revolutionised the game! We'll only understand this 20 years from now." (Phrasen… pic.twitter.com/A6i3tSETSJ— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 19, 2024
Neuer is undoubtedly one of the greatest goalkeepers if not the best in history while Messi is widely agreed to be the greatest player of all time.
Perhaps the most remarkable trait of the two is their longevity. Both players dominated their positions for well over a decade.
A quick comparison of silverware between the two shows there’s a bit of a gap between the two players.
World Cup titles
- Messi: 1
- Neuer: 1
Euro/Copa America titles
- Messi: 1
- Neuer: 0
UEFA Champions League titles
- Messi: 4
- Neuer: 2
League titles
- Messi: 12
- Neuer: 11
Perhaps trophies aren’t the best way to gauge the “importance” of a player as Gómez alludes to in his quote.
Neuer’s sweeper-keeper playstyle and dominance in net is truly one of a kind.
ℎ ™️#FCBARS highlights https://t.co/bvENInbJpb#MiaSanMia #UCL pic.twitter.com/Bgk97fBtMV
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) April 19, 2024
To say he’s not a legend of the game is blasphemous, to put him on the same level as Messi is questionable.
How high do you rank Neuer’s importance to the game?
