Rivalry Framed in Anime Style
Villarreal forward Nicolas Pepe ignited the football world after his appearance on the Just Riadh show, where he boldly stated that “Cristiano Ronaldo is Vegeta and Lionel Messi is Goku.”
His analogy, referencing Dragon Ball Z, instantly went viral across forums, social media, and football communities on 12BET Malaysia.
Pepe claimed that in football—just like in anime—the one who keeps mentioning his rival often sees himself as second place, drawing a direct comparison between Ronaldo’s frequent mentions of Messi and Vegeta’s obsession with surpassing Goku.
Why Pepe Believes Messi Stands Alone
Pepe expanded on his reasoning during the interview:
Football Is More Than Statistics
Pepe argued that true greatness includes passing, dribbling, movement, creativity, and overall football intelligence—attributes he believes Messi naturally exceeds in.
Messi the Unique Genius Ronaldo the Perfect Worker
Pepe claimed that a Ronaldo-like player may emerge again in 20 years due to discipline and effort,
but a Messi-like talent is “once in football history.”
The 1000 Goal Claim
He downplayed claims that Ronaldo could reach 1000 goals, stating:
“Since moving to Saudi Arabia, he has taken more than 200 penalties. Messi doesn’t care about these numbers.”
This perspective generated massive discussion threads on 12BET Football, where fans debated talent versus hard work in elite performance.
Pepe’s Background and Influence
Nicolas Pepe, an Ivory Coast international and former €80M Arsenal signing, contributed 3 goals and 6 assists in the 2024–25 season for Villarreal, playing a key role in their Champions League qualification.
His comments are seen as a player’s real insider viewpoint, adding weight to his Messi–Ronaldo comparison.
Key Takeaways from Pepe’s Viral Statement
Pepe’s key arguments can be summarized as:
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Continually mentioning your rival often reflects an internal sense of inferiority
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True greatness goes beyond raw scoring statistics
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Messi represents pure, unmatched talent
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Ronaldo represents ultimate dedication and professionalism
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Both players embody different paths to football immortality