"Arabs Worshipped Me": Mohammed Polo Claims He is More Popular Than Ronaldo in Arab Football

• Mohammed Polo has opened up on his legendary career in the Arab world
• The former Ghana international played for Al Wasl in the United Arab Emirates
• Polo insists he made Arab football more popular before Ronaldo

Former Ghanaian footballer, Mohammed Ahmed Polo, has revealed that he made Arab football more popular before the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed Polo, as he is affectionately known around the world, played for Emirati club Al Wasl between 1979 to 1984 and was the toast of fans around the Gulf.

In recent times, the Saudi Pro League had gained huge popularity with the likes of Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane all heading to Saudi Arabia.

But according to Polo, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is a 'latter day saint' when it comes to football in the Gulf region. He claims he is more popular that the ex-Real Madrid star in Arab football.

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"It's not true," he replied when asked about Ronaldo's claim to have made Arab football popular. "Ronaldo is a latter day saint. This is his time, Before Ronaldo, we were there," he added on Angel FM.

"I mean, slavery started in the Arab world and there is no way an Arab will carry a black person but they carried me because of football. They just could not let it go. Even at that time, it was at the twilight of my career," he added.

Polo is revered in Ghana for helping the Black Stars win the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations.

He also played for Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak and Great Olympics in a career that spanned over 20 years, as reported by Transfermarkt.

Polo picks between Ronaldo and Messi

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Mohammed Polo was straightforward with his pick between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

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The legendary Ghanaian footballer insists Lionel Messi is better than Ronaldo due to his great dribbling skills.

Polo, who was known in his days as the 'dribbling magician' in an interview with Ghanaweb stated that both players have distinct qualities that makes them unique.