Van Persie Names Messi Among Top 3 Players in the World, Snubs Ronaldo

• Former Arsenal star Robin van Persie has named his top 3 players in the world
• He included Lionel Messi and the two players tipped to be the next face of football
• The former Dutch international snubbed Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi is still getting best in the world shouts despite leaving Europe for the MLS, while a former Manchester United striker snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi and Ronaldo were at the top of their game and were the face of football for the last 15 years, winning 12 Ballon d'Ors between them and producing possibly the greatest football rivalry.

Both have ended their time in Europe this year, with the Portuguese heading for Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr while the Argentine World Cup winner plays for Inter Miami in the MLS.

Van Persie's best players in the world

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Former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, speaking to ESPN UK, was asked to name his current top 3 players in the world, and he included veteran Messi among two youngsters.

"Mbappe, Messi still and Haaland," he said.

The 36-year-old is in the race for the 2023 Ballon d'Or with Erling Haaland, with Kylian Mbappe also considered for his exploits for PSG and at the World Cup for France.

Haaland helped Manchester City to their first treble in his first season in English football, picking up the Premier League and UEFA Champions League Golden Boots.

As reported by Evening Standard, multiple reports have suggested that the former Barcelona star has been informed he is the winner of the 2023 award, the eighth of his career.

Ferdinand picks Mbappe over Haaland

Sports Brief reported that Rio Ferdinand picked Mbappe over Haaland as the better all-round player among the two superstars touted to be the heir apparent to Messi and Ronaldo.

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Ferdinand applauded Erling Haaland as a crazy goalscorer but boldly claimed that by the end of their careers, the France international would be the better player.

Haaland admires Messi's dribbling

Sports Brief reported on Haaland wanting one attribute in Messi ahead of their showdown for the coveted Ballon d'Or later next month.

The Manchester City star was asked to name any player and pick one attribute in them, and it was gracious for him to pick Messi and name his dribbling as one attribute he wanted.