This article recounts the career of Colombian footballer Hugo Rodallega, highlighting his early success at the South American U20 Championship and his iconic status as a 'Barclaysman' for Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League. It also explores the controversy surrounding his claim to be superior to Lionel Messi and his efforts to clear up the misunderstanding.
Hugo Rodallega established a cult hero legacy in English football – but his impact in the game pales in comparison to Lionel Messi.
It was then that he was reported to have claimed he was the superior player, a comment that stuck with him across his journeyed career in Mexico, England, Turkey and Brazil. Speaking to Diario AS in 2023, Rodallega clarified it was all a misunderstanding. "I'm not better than Messi. I'm not better than anyone," he insisted.
Such was the magnitude of the discussion around the claim that Rodallega would go on to seek out Messi and speak to him face-to-face to clarify the situation. "I spoke to him, I spoke to Zabaleta years later, when we were in England, Zabaleta was at Manchester City and when we faced each other we stayed talking, he asked me and we talked about it," he explained.
While Messi's career soared to remarkable heights, Rodallega carved out his own path. His goalscoring prowess for Liga MX side Necaxa caught Wigan's attention, leading to a £4.5million transfer in January 2009.
FOOTBALL HISTORY PREMIER LEAGUE COLOMBIA MESSI
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