Wilfried Zaha just raised some eyebrows with a surprising choice. When asked to build the perfect footballer, the Charlotte FC winger picked Arjen Robben over Lionel Messi for the best left foot in the game.
Now, that's a bold call. Messi has scored over 752 career goals with his left foot—more than any player in football history. He's blown past other left-footed legends like Mohamed Salah, Antoine Griezmann, and yes, even Robben himself.
During a fun segment with Charlotte FC, Zaha was asked to piece together his ideal player. For the right foot, he went with Cristiano Ronaldo—no surprise there. But the left foot choice? That's where things got interesting.
The former Crystal Palace star chose Bayern Munich legend Robben, despite Messi's ridiculous goal-scoring record. It shows just how much respect Zaha has for the Dutch winger's lethal left foot, which terrorized defenders for years.
Zaha's other picks were pretty solid too. He gave speed to Gareth Bale and strength to Adriano. For finishing, he picked the original Ronaldo—Ronaldo Nazario. The toughest choice? Football IQ between Barcelona legends Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.
Zaha's Fearless Approach to Facing Messi
Here's the thing about Zaha—he doesn't get starstruck. Back in September 2024, before Charlotte FC faced Inter Miami, Zaha sent a clear message to Messi and everyone watching.
"I know he's the GOAT," Zaha admitted. "But as soon as I'm playing against you, I couldn't care less about all that stuff." That's the mentality of a competitor who respects greatness but won't be intimidated by it.
And guess what? His attitude paid off big time. Charlotte FC absolutely dominated Inter Miami that day, winning 3-0 on their home turf at the Bank of America Stadium.
For bettors keeping an eye on MLS matches, Zaha's presence in Charlotte has added an unpredictable edge. His fearless approach against star-studded teams like Inter Miami shows that upset results are always on the cards when he's motivated. Both Zaha and Messi currently play in MLS, which means we could see more of these fascinating matchups as the season progresses.
