After England were defeated to a 1-1 draw by Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualification on Saturday, former Chelsea player Joe Cole compared Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka to Lionel Messi.
Despite the Three Lions’ loss, Saka delivered yet another outstanding performance.
The 22-year-old nearly secured all three points, but his ferocious shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
Saka was just named one of the 30 finalists for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, and now Cole puts him in the company of some of the sport’s all-time great strikers.
You can’t back off [Saka] because he has that Lionel Messi-like ability to take the ball backwards.
If you manage to halt the attacker, the defender will reclaim possession of the whip and continue to wield it with devastating force.
Only a handful of players possess this ability; Mo Salah, Lionel Messi, and Bukayo Saka are just a few examples. He’s clinical when he’s on the spot,” Cole said to Channel 4.
