Messi, Olise or Kane for the Ballon d’Or

0:00You want to get your backyard summer ready, but you don't want to break the bank? Wayfair gets it. Planning on dining al fresco or relaxing poolside? Wayfair has everything you need to prep your space. Shop now and save up to 70 % off during Wayfair's 4th of July clearance. Score huge deals on outdoor furniture, area rugs, and more. We're talking thousands of products for every style and budget. Plus, surprise flash deals July 6th. Don't wait! Shop Wayfair's 4th of July clearance now through July 6th at Wayfair.com. Wayfair, every style, every home. I think he's the best England player we've had.

0:35In the generation that I've seen, I don't know the 1966 and Bobby Moore and them guys. I didn't see enough of them to put them in the mix. But everything after that that I've seen, I think he's the best in doing it. In an England shirt, the best that we've seen. He's too good. I don't think he's just the best. I think he's clear of everybody else. He's the only player I've seen replicate his club form for England.

1:01Yes, guys, welcome back to another episode of Rio Presents. We're here with, we've got a nice cast today, man, I'm telling you. But you know what? We're chilling back at the crib here. The Airbnb pad. After a little bit of work, I went to Houston, Texas. It's humid down there, by the way. It is hot. Yeah. Dripping. Hot in here. Mate, this isn't hot. This is winter. This is winter, mate. Wow. I just want to make sure, did you look after the place? I've come back. There's a few things out of place. My sunglasses, I can't find them. Yeah. My charger's gone. what's going on my charger's gone as well my charger went so I took yours you watched the England game here we did what was it like you saw it you was in the comments laughing you saw us I wanted to get into it quick that's what I'm saying your outfit needs needs talking about there was different seasons in this room yeah yeah yeah no it was good it was fun overall man we had Farrah here of course Jody was with us and what did you get up to yourself yeah I was away I went to do something in Houston in Texas it was it was football orientated which is obviously with the World Cup going on but it was good man I had a good time but I was in and out one day back came back late last night me and Jolion went to the gym don't know where you two were gym we were in the gym while you were rolling about in bed sleeping I haven't missed a day real no you missed today where was you?

2:12you haven't been this morning you haven't been yet you said he's going after that today's not over here are you going after? of course I am okay okay he took a sip yeah anyway listen I've been getting a lot of comments bro about the horse racing stuff horse racing? horse racing You was not racing anywhere, mate. You were in reverse. I'm going to be honest. Horse riding. You know, like, people loved it. People loved it. Did you see it? I seen it. I seen the attire. I don't know why you... That hat, bro. We all had the hat. Nah, but yours was like... We were authentic, hadn't we? Yours was... Yeah, yours was suspicious, man.

2:45Oh, man. I got some questions for you after the show, man. But you know what? I'll see all the comments as well, right? So, you know, I've done... I've gone... Well, I don't know. I went and booked another one. I went online. Went on the Airbnb app. I wanted to take Crouchy down to Muscle Beach, as you do, yeah? Place him in the ropes. Place him in the right place. And I got looking and I found paint a soccer themed skateboard with a Venice Pro. So there's a geezer down there. He knows the ropes. He took us around. Got Crouchy on a skateboard. Like he's unreal, seriously. Wait, what? I need to see that.

3:16What did you just say? On a skateboard. You got six foot nine. Peter Crouch on a skateboard. It's not even the height, Rob. It's his foot. His foot's going to be like the skateboard. He's got wheels in his shoes. He had two. He's actually roller skates in the end. He had two. But no, amazing. Seriously. Well, I'm looking forward to seeing it, regardless of us not being revolved anyway. So let's go. All right. Let's get on to England, man. It's a bit of a funny one. Why? Because obviously, three lines and that, but... No, three lines and that. It was a bit... Really? Yeah. It was more like Leopard just today.

3:47Yeah, he was a Leopard, yeah. Cheetah, cheetah print. Yeah, no, it was an interesting one. But what did you think of the game overall real? During the first half, I was concerned. I've got to be honest. I was sitting there squirming, thinking, whoa. And I was thinking, Steve's sitting there going, I told you so. I told you so. But at the same time, we go a goal down. It rocks us. But we still created about four chances in the first half. Not like little. I'm talking about massive chances. Their keeper had a worldie. And passive. So I was sitting there thinking, like, as bad as it is looking at what the result is at the time, one nil down.

4:19And by the way, if Wissler scores as well, it's another completely different story. But we had so many opportunities. And so if you're looking at it as a coach, I think you're sitting there going, yeah, not good to be 1-0 down. But our reaction to going 1-0 down and the chances we created, I'll be happy with that side of things. Now, I wouldn't be happy with the amount of chances we're giving up. And in transitions, I think we look quite open and quite easy to play against and get out against. That will be a concern for me. But the way we came back in terms of creativity, I've seen England teams capitulate in that situation and start looking around at each other.

4:52Well, who's going to get us out of this? Where it was, I thought it was a real collective, not authority, but there was a confidence in the way that we're going to keep creating chances and we'll get through. And then in the end, Harry Kane steps up as he does. Now I'm going to get into something with you in a second, Jolion, but Steve, do you reckon they're relying a lot on Thomas Tuchel's changes? No, and I know that Gordon come on and got two assists, but like Rio said, there was chances being created the entire time. It does have a bit of an air of inevitability with Harry Kane, I think, at the moment.

5:24You just feel like, what's he on, 72 goals this year? It just feels like at some point he's going to score, doesn't it? I mean, you don't really have any sort of worries that he's not going to find a goal. It's almost like going into a game. It's 1-0 us because you've got Harry Kane. It's whether or not he's in the right area at the right time as you're putting the balls in. The chances were there, but for me, it's been the same thing the entire time. The defending is just not good enough. And I don't know if the personnel in the defense is good enough either as well. And the worry on the transitions is I've watched Mexico and I'm watching the likes of France and I'm thinking, you know, with all due respect, Congo ain't either of those teams.

6:06And I see real problems for England if they can't, especially when they're playing Anderson and Rice and you think that's the midfield that we brought to stop that. it's a more defensive, more sort of conservative midfield than you could play. You could play Bellingham, you could play Maynou as one of the deeper positions and just have one in the pivot. But he's having two and we're still getting carved open on the transition and the fullbacks aren't even high. I think this is why there's been big shouts. I've been one of them thinking Kobe Maynou I think needs to get involved. But the way that England play at the moment, I think would go against the strengths of Kobe Maynou because the transition we're getting hurt and that's not part of his game.

6:42That's one of the weakest parts of his game in terms of covering space. So I think I can understand, I can see why, with the personal, with the way that he struck to his team, why Cobb-Mainu doesn't get it looking. I agree. I want to say this, we've got two... Wait, hang on, not a single minute though. No, no, I don't agree with that. I'm just saying, I mean, as they're coming on to change things maybe, but if you're worried about transitions and I think you have to be the way that we've seen the games that we've played, then Cobb-Mainu's, like I said, strengths aren't around transitions. Can you prevent some of the transitions by being better, by moving the ball around though and having someone like him that can hold it and take it a little bit further.

7:17Yeah, but I think, I mean, Jolene is probably a better place as a coach, but I think a coach will go, what if as well? Well, what if we lose the ball? What happens then? It's probably easier to stop that part than the transition itself. Do you know what I mean? Like actually the kind of execution of having to go 70, 80 meters, you want to stop preventing that. So if that's going to happen more often than not, you're going to think, well, who's more capable to do that? And if it's Anderson, and if it's Declan, if it's Kaby, whatever he thinks, you would want to stop the worst case scenario rather than think, well, that's only going to happen two times.

7:49Then you're struggling. Steve just said there a minute ago, he said the defence isn't good enough. For someone who's played at the elite level, do you agree with that statement or do you reckon that was a bit wild? Yeah, I think it's harsh. I think it's harsh to say that they're not good enough. Listen, obviously for real, yeah, he's arguably the best and him and JT, probably the best partnership we can all remember. but these players have delivered to a certain extent. They've done this, they've got us here. I think we're just looking at the quality rather than the actual occasion as well. It's experiencing occasions.

8:22That is a big factor. Like the nation's watching. Like Mark has only just gone to City where the scrutiny gets higher. It gets more detail where it's new to playing Champions League, playing Champions League for a couple of years. So that level of pressure as well. So I think we're just looking at the quality and saying, well, he might not be good enough. It's not the case. Like playing for England is a different level of pressure and scrutiny. Like everyone's watching. Everyone. And there's still an element of, hence the reason you'd probably not support England is people that support other teams don't want them to do well.

8:57You know what I mean? And you can feel that. I thought that was always the case when we were playing. It was like Liverpool fans don't want Rio to be the best player. They want Steven Gerrard to be the best player. And you, as a United fan, you want your players to be the best. And I think that's underestimated with the kind of environment that they're in. Now we're dropping a big interview on the platform this coming weekend. Is it this weekend? Saturday. Saturday with Thiago Alcantara. Like absolute baller. I'm a big fanboy. But one bit he said when he spoke to Rio and Rio meets, he said that Henderson, he makes everybody a better player.

9:30Like you actually played with Jordan Henderson as well, right? Yeah, 2012. 2012. Do you agree with that statement? Yeah, I definitely believe he makes everyone a better professional by the way he acts and the way he conducts himself. And you can't question his resume. He's done things that a lot of people haven't done. And as I said, he's in the bracket of like James Milner, where if you're around them players and you see them players, there's no excuses. There's no excuse to not put a 100 % effort in, regardless of what you're doing. Preparation, pre-activation, recovery, the session itself, the games.

10:04like it's do everything you should be doing and the outcome might not be the one you want but at least then you can't question anything yeah now rio you spoke to tiago as well about his coaching badges now i'm i'm a fan i didn't see all of the interview i dipped in and out what did he say about the coaching badge situation no no he said he just didn't have the relevant coaching badges to to be considered for the Liverpool job um where are you with your coaching budget yeah i've got I've got badges I could coach. I need my pro, but I don't want to coach like that at the moment. No, I've enjoyed it.

10:38Listen, working with them players is obviously a massive honor. We spoke at the time when we were in Portugal. But in regards to coaching, it's not a nine to five. That's the only job in football I think is 100 % of your time. You're never off. even on a day off like as a player you might switch off physically you're definitely off and then mentally you might choose to kind of unwind where coaching it's like well we have to plan the session review the session then plan the next session review the game and it's like there's always something and I was like I'm not ready to to dedicate that much time so you've done city you've done yeah under 21s yeah and the senior team you've got to talk to us about the senior team man that's six matches three different camps you know during the Lee Carlsley era right yeah So, look, yesterday we watched a game and we saw strikers like Harry Kane, who, Steve, I know you're a big fan of as well.

11:33You started asking Jolene a few questions. What is it about him when he sees that goal, man? Give us something. It's crazy, like, and I don't want to sound disrespectful, but he doesn't do anything that you haven't seen before, but he does everything right. There's nothing that he doesn't do right. His touch is immaculate all the time. It's not like 90%, it's like 99. Do you know what I mean? So when I see in that chance, that was probably a chance for three people. It wasn't a chance really. Yeah. But I think if you've done socials earlier in the camp, I think even before the games, you've seen him practicing that scenario, them scenarios.

12:12It's like there's mannequins in the box. He only sees a fraction of the goal. It's a third of the goal because he knows, cliche, the goal doesn't move. This is where I, only place I can shoot is here when I'm in this position. and it's like repetition of them scenarios rather than we've always seen strikers running into the box. It's a whole goal. It's like, how often do you see that scenario? He's practicing real life scenarios of like, I'm about to go, I've got two touches and the ability to replicate the tempo in training. Like, yeah. Only the elites do that. Yeah. Like this is like, when he practices penalties, it's the same.

12:49Lampard's one of the probably the most match orientated trainer I've seen in terms of reps of shooting and Harry when I see the stuff that he does looks like he's on that level being able to do it like you could probably do it like two or three times but every time unopposed it's like this is the pace I need to do it at this is when the chance is going to come and also knowing that chance is going to come late so there's no point practicing when you're fresh practicing when you're tired you're fatigued after training it's like now I need to do it because this is the moment it's going to come in the 90th minute So for those of us watching, especially us fans, myself and Estee, are you telling him to do these drills in that way?

13:28Or is he staying to do extras? Like, I want to know a little bit more. Is he setting his own detail up then? He's like, here's what I want. Yeah, you say, like you, my role was to kind of aid the detail part of the players that want to stay extra and do the bits. So he was like, I want to do a finishing session in the UK. Okay, I'll set up the mannequins. And he knows what he wants to do. You just have to facilitate it. And as I said, Pated the balls into him and stuff like that. And then replicate, like, as I said, be a passive defender and I can, like, push him and you can do them things. And it's not just him.

13:58There's so many other players that are doing. Does he lead that? And then they all follow in almost? No, no, because, as I said, this is an elite group. Like, they all know. They all want to improve and be the best they can be. But, like, again, probably going back before that with the 21s, like, a lot of them were doing it. Like, Curtis Jones, Anthony Gordon, Nani, the wingers and Cole and stuff like that. So they all are aware of, these are the scenarios I'm going to get in in the game. So let me just be comfortable doing them. And as I said, probably the difference between Harry and the rest is his ability to replicate the match tempo every time.

14:34Right, man, we've got loads still to come right on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this. You want to get your backyard summer ready, but you don't want to break the bank? Wayfair gets it. Planning on dining al fresco or relaxing poolside? Wayfair has everything you need to prep your space. Shop now and save up to 70 % off during Wayfair's 4th of July clearance. Score huge deals on outdoor furniture, area rugs, and more. We're talking thousands of products for every style and budget. Plus, surprise flash deals July 6th. Don't wait. Shop Wayfair's 4th of July clearance now through July 6th at Wayfair.com.

15:09Wayfair, every style, every home. Do you keep hearing podcast ads, like this one for example, but always wonder how you actually get involved with them for your own brand or organization? Well, it's easier than you think. We're Acast, and we give you the platform to do it all yourself. Browse thousands of popular podcasts, choose the shows that match your perfect audience, set your budget, and launch. And if you want a hand, our podcast specialists are there to help you launch with confidence. This is podcast advertising without barriers. Get started at acast.com slash advertise you know what I loved about the second goal which was like a ruthless finish right he's doing reps and nine times out of ten those reps are on that side of the goal back across bottom corner right he's recognized that's not on now so I'm going over here and the surprise of the goalkeeper that's what shot was like I know I've watched Harry I've seen him he goes back across but he's seen and recognised and doing that in their moment separates the good from the elite the top top players just seeing that and like knowing yeah there's three defenders there I can't shoot across it can only go in this side of the goal it's crazy rock it I mean you've played as well I say played you coached some of the wingers as well you were talking to me and you were saying how as a defender you know what you don't like yeah you know what have you been able to improve or work with the England players in those scenarios Listen, I don't want any credit for how these players are performing, but no, just working with them and making them aware how defenders think and what I would look to do if I was playing against these wingers and you want to receive the ball a certain way.

16:52Like a lot of wingers now receive it on the outside of their foot. But if that foot is closer to the defender, I know where you can't go. And there's only certain places you can go. So now I can take them away by my positioning. So if you're on the right wing, you control it. And it's mostly left wingers on the right side. so the ball comes over and all of a sudden I want to control it with the outside of my left foot where am I going to be standing I'm going to be standing closer to that foot so that touch is going to be closer to me so now where can you go based on that touch where if you take it on the right your right foot on the instep you can go multiple directions so now my distance can't be as close so I can't be as aggressive and it's just making them aware that these are the things that defenders are thinking about not just strikers strikers don't just think about the game defenders do as well so when you're doing that you create as many variables as possible so now the distances has to be bigger because if it's if you're taking away the variables I know you can only go certain places so now I can be tighter and nullify that for it who does that the best the best I've seen would be my rest the best I've seen his touch I don't think I've seen a better touch on the run I never thought I'd see a better touch than David Silva and then I see his key on the run yeah he No, no, that is because his touch is insane.

18:05Insane, like, and his ability to take it with the outside of his, he's probably something you don't want to coach. Teach, yeah, yeah. Well, I can't even question that. You can't even question what he's doing because his ability to take it on the outside of his left foot, but like in across his body. So the distance is still great enough for him to go elsewhere. And when we did stuff, when I was working at City and we were working with like wide players that were going on loan and we looked at his ratio. People assume that he goes inside. His ratio was 50-50. He was going down the line as much as he was going inside and people just think he got inside and used his left foot.

18:43No, he would go outside. And then the ability to be able to use your weaker foot, not great, but just enough to get it into the box, into the right area. Now, as a defender, I have to combat that. If I know your right foot or your weaker foot is not great. Your approach is different. You have to think about your approach. That's why I always talk, when I talk to young players, about being like, don't be one side dominant. Even if your weaker foot isn't as good as your other foot, which is most of the time, still show a defender that you're willing to go on the outside. Because for a defender, you've got to make him think that you're not a one-track bully in terms of that.

19:20Because if I think you're only going one way, I am always going to push you that way. And I'm going to have the upper hand most of the time. And at elite levels, maybe like a Robin will still find his way. but most of the times you'll be able to dominate in them situations but the mad thing you talk about not wanting to do coaching but the way you talk you sound like you love coaching I love working with players yeah I love working with players in detail that's the thing I enjoyed the most like going into like even the mentoring with the loans and stuff at City just being able to do that I loved it but like the kind of whole thing and even speak about the kind of pathways and stuff like that and then seeing Ash who you know as well and knowing Ash as a player to see him working with him as a coach is crazy because he's so different the way he loves coaching like he's obsessed and then seeing his journey I'm like there's probably five players that have done what he's done and he has to go to Serie B So what do you mean five players being asked to do what he's done?

20:19So like I was actually I don't even know me and Joel talk about it all the time but like Ash's 100 caps will start like no one England player has ever had first 100 caps and he's captain England he's coached England he's won what he's won he's played where he's played and then we're sending him to Serie A like there's not a pathway for Ashley Cole which is crazy so if Ashley Cole ain't got a pathway like where am I going to end up you know what I mean but then I understand what you're saying but then some people they probably think they should be maybe entitled John Terry the other day what did you think of those comments yeah I thought that was again a little bit of entitlement because granted yeah what it means to him, I think it probably does mean the most to him.

21:02And in terms of that, but there's, you know, there's elements of coaching that isn't just about your badges, like them, man, I'm way more experienced than me at what you've achieved, but your relationship with people is so important and players need to be able to believe what you're saying and you want the best for them. And for me, it was like, you're making them comments, but I'm sure he's been in the dressing room when decisions were being made as a player and then the club would ask his opinion and he's probably gone down another route. So that would be based on his relationship with the coach.

21:35So him saying, yeah, he's the best candidate because he loves Chelsea and he's played for Chelsea and it's not going to mean more to anyone else. I agree with that, but the players need to perform and who's the best motivator for them players and it isn't going to necessarily be John Terry because he's played for Chelsea. So the players might have maybe felt comfortable with McFarlane who was the interim at the time And I think, and I'm not saying this is the case, but I remember that the game at City and he got obviously the result. It was a late equaliser. And I remember seeing the players like celebrate with him.

22:07Like, so his relationship was probably the biggest factor rather than the coaching element, the qualifications element. Because if that was the case, Steven Gerrard would be Liverpool manager. Hands down. And that's the case with Michael Carrick. It's like his relationship is equally as important as his qualifications. is understanding to work with players so also your relationship with the club yeah like your relationship with the people that are making the decisions is huge i think like every industry every walk of life is who you know and if you've got a good relationship working relationship friendship almost with the particular people that are making the decisions about who's coming in to that particular job that club that business then you've got a great chance if you haven't got that relationship then doesn't matter what you've done prior to that doesn't matter how much you mean to the the employees or the fan base whoever it is that does and that's a real thing like I've been given opportunities to to work coach whatever not based on what I've done it's my relationship with Lee Carsley like we spent time together work together he knows how I work and then the opportunity came it was like yeah it wasn't I didn't have to go for a process I was given all the jobs kind of I've been asked to do after playing was based on my relationship with the people that are making the decision.

23:24So the thing about you is you've had the chance to play with some of these players who have crossed over to the new era. Like we spoke about Jordan Henderson, but also Tiago, he's another one, Rio. I said, he's the last of the Mohicans, bro. Like he played in your era and he crossed over. But what was key about it? He said that, what did he say about players? He said that players are able now to do things better and quicker than what our era were to do it. But I would say he said, as a caveat, if you slow things down, then they're not as good as our era. What do you think of that? Because I thought...

24:02Yeah, go on. When he was saying that they're moving quicker and they're making decisions and they're better when they're moving quicker, I can understand that because the game does feel much faster. When you're standing there at the sidelines, you're thinking, whoa, was we moving this quick? And a lot of the guys like Thiago and people that like you, maybe a bit more yourself, you played in this between the generations will go yeah it's quicker now right but the difference is and i agree with when it slows down that means you've got to think more and i think thinking more has been taken away from this generation because everything's about structure strategy and making sure you stay within the boundaries of what the manager's saying to a point and that's different to ours was very much there's the puzzle guys i've given you a little bit of it go and unlock it and go and finish the puzzle yourself very different to now that's why there was more entertainers back in the day as probably yeah do you feel it when you're massively so yeah yeah because you see I mean the angle that we got for the World Cup every angle is exactly the same and you're seeing every team has got the same build up pattern every team has got a 3-2-5 pretty much like that's the you know the defenders are on the halfway line they're in a tight three then you've got midfield spaced out then you've got either fullbacks or wingers are dead high and then you've got a little bit of a cluster in and around the D every team every single team no matter what the formation says on paper whether it's a 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, they get on the ball, every team is exactly the same.

25:23And I feel like that's because there's been this trend. People have almost solved build-up in a way. People have almost solved how to keep possession, how to press, how to counter-press. And it's going to take a revolution of someone going, no, no, no, I'm going to do... Maybe we saw a little bit in the Premier League last year where people were hitting the channel a little bit more. People were going a little bit more direct. We're seeing a little bit more crossing. And I think it's going to take almost a switch like that. PSG played different. I think we're going to go back to wingers that go around the outside.

25:51Left wingers on the left and right wingers on the right. Yeah, listen, I think there's a case for any kind of debate regarding players being better now. I think there's more athletic players now. Definitely believe that. But better, it's a tough one that I find that hard. The volume of players from Rio's era was higher for me. There's a lot more players that could play from that era into day zero than vice versa. I think athletically, yeah. But like you said, I don't know if the ability to not have the detail and find the solution is there. I think we, like you said, we were told you had to learn on job.

26:34Like you couldn't watch tape. So if I'm playing against somebody within 10 minutes of him receiving the ball three times, I'm like, what does he want to do? What does he, can he do? And what does he want to do? And what does he want to achieve? it's like now I need to figure that out where different now the answers are there prior to they're on x that's what I mean so you can get the information but again being able to find the solutions we was able to find the solutions I think quicker based on because we were forced to yeah based on that and it wasn't just just a coaching thing it was like there wasn't access to everything that these guys have so you would expect it to be quicker I do think this world cup though has thrown up a really like good counter argument to mavericks and to like entertaining players because this world cup the superstars have entertained do you mean and like you're looking at what elise is doing and i said this the other day if someone said to you 18 months ago that elise would be where he is right compared to where when saka was 18 months ago people would think you're crazy saka's had a bad injury and i grant him that like elisa was at palace palace yeah yeah and i'm want to go, you're crazy.

27:42Saka's going to be the best referee right wing in the world. It's very possible. If he wins the World Cup, right? Alise. Oh, yeah. No, he was talking about Saka then. No, I was talking about Alise. Yeah, if he wins the World Cup, then it could easily be him. I asked you in the group chat the other day, I said, because I reckon it should be Mbappe. I think Mbappe right now is the best player on the planet. We spoke about it yesterday. So you think if France win it, it should be Mbappe and not Dembele who's won Champions League. Yeah, because I don't think Dembele hasn't played a lot of games for PSG as much as the other.

28:15All three of them are in the mix if France win it. You know, so, and then maybe, who knows, if England win it, Harry Kane, you know, you can say. If England win it, Harry Kane wins Ballon d 'Or. If Bayern Munich could have won the Champions League, you're looking at a Lise versus Kane shootout for Ballon d 'Or. that's all it is. Because they've both been sobered. I think the Ballon d 'Or, sorry, I think the Ballon d 'Or, it gets judged around World Cup year, World Cup means so much. It's crazy. So it's almost like if England or France win it, a player from that team will win the Ballon d 'Or. Because Messi won it last time.

28:46Yeah, look at Haaland. And Haaland was like treble in seasons. Yeah, that was mental. So I think we have to negate what happened in the season. Yeah, so whoever wins the World Cup, who's flying, wins it. Especially if you look at, say, France winning. Why is so first if Argentina win it, Messi wins the Ballon d 'Or? He's going to get it. In the MLS. Wow. He's going to get it. Imagine the MLS. I thought Romero was going to get it. No, no, he'll win it. I just can't see how he won't win it. Like you say, when Haaland won the treble and broke all records scoring, he's sitting there probably thinking, before a ball's kicked to the World Cup, guys, the Ballon d 'Or is coming on my mantelpiece.

29:20I've just made a space for it. And then Messi goes and done what he done. He gets to get Ballon d 'Or. It's different. Not that I agree with it, but that's the facts of the matter. I think it should go back to being the best player. I think sometimes it's way too much on, okay, but he's won this trophy. So you would say, so based on that, you'd give it to Mbappe? Yeah, bro. Because I think right about now he's the best player in the world. Like what he's doing on the ball. You think he's more important to his team than Harry Kane is to his team? No, no, no, no. I thought he was going to say at least, but to Harry Kane, no, he's not.

29:51But I'm talking about the best player. I've seen him. He's matching Messi right about now. Mbappe. It's time of recording six goals each. The skills I'm seeing. One more game, by the way. He's got one more game. Still, though. I know what he's doing. This is why I think Mbappe's the best right now right if he's at this form that he's in because and Messi and Ronaldo over there yeah yeah but Mbappe's probably I think the only person who does a bit of everything at the elite level so he scored a 30 yarder the other day he's doing schoolboy mess around playground tricks before his first goal during the build up he's doing movements that number nines have to do to get in at elite level the pace to run in behind and his finishing is devastating.

30:36Like all of these things here I've mentioned here, there ain't another number nine in the world that does all of those. His numbers this season are good. It's just our goal. All your Madrid fans aren't having him for whatever it is. Just because they win anything. Yeah, they need trophies, yeah. The slander he's been getting, I think it's outrageous. Is that petition real, by the way? It can't be. Not the numbers. 30, 40 million people signed a petition. I think we're in the viral online world where people just do stuff for the sake of it, you know? No, 100%. And then people want to jump on it.

31:03don't even know what they're signing up for. Probably just jumping on it, yeah. I've been asking everyone, the guys on the show, before we wrap up. So if I was to ask you, player of the tournament so far, who are you saying? I would say Messi. I think at 39, to do this is insane. Like, you haven't even been to the gym yet, bro. And this man's doing his score with all his goals. You know what I mean? He ain't been to the gym yet, bro. I'm going to go straight after the show. He's been to the gym and he's turning up at 39. You know what I mean? So I would say, knowing and I just think we just take it for granted how long he's been doing what he's doing it's insane so I'm going to say Messi I would say for what is the respect you have to have for Messi to do that it's crazy right and I've got limitless respect for that but in terms of just going and sitting down and watching and going who's entertained me yeah Mbappe but I don't know Alise Alise I asked him and I'm waiting for the Mbappe shot He's stuck with Elise.

32:02That's always true. Same. He's stuck with Elise as well. I would say Elise. I've enjoyed watching Elise more than I've enjoyed watching Kylian Mbappe. He's honestly making me really... Joe needs a shout as well. He's Hakimi. Because he's not playing like a right back. He's inverting. He's finding himself in the box and he's making things happen. And again, we go, who is the best right back in the world? But we almost like forget that. That's still a massive achievement. But we just go, who is the best right back in the world? Of course, he's doing a madness. But you go... They play each other, right?

32:28Next. Yeah. Yeah. Massive. That's a game of the tournament so far. Big, big game. So, you know, I think Hakimi needs a shout. I think Gilberto Moura needs a shout for Mexico. 17 years of age doing an absolute madness. Madness. You know, I think there's been some really good performances. And Harry Kane, yeah, just completely overlook it because it seems... So, you supposed to say something I thought was really interesting. Harry Kane doesn't have to play well. Yeah, no. That, yeah. That's an ability in itself. Should be hugely impact. Yeah. Is that what you saw when you were coaching him or is that...

32:58I just know him just from watching him like he doesn't he doesn't have to be involved in the game but his ability when the moments arrive I think again I think we we want someone to control the whole game because you're used to playing with and seeing Wayne Rooney you're thinking it has to be that it doesn't have to be the same way it's just how do you impact the game and we'd all sit here and say there's only a chance like that like came the other day there's only one person you want to have that chance probably in the world there's three or four players around him as well and he still gets his shot off It's ridiculous.

33:30He's the best. I think he's the best England player we've had. The generation that I've seen, I don't know the 1966 and Bobby Moore and them guys. I don't know. I didn't see enough of them to put them in the mix. But everything after that that I've seen, I think he's the best in doing it. In an England shirt, the best that we've seen. He's too good. I don't think he's just the best. I think he's clear of everybody else. Yeah. At the same time. I would say he's the only player I've seen replicate his club form for England to the level. I've seen players do that like your World Cup before you went to United but did you do that every tournament isn't it every tournament every time we had dinner last night and we discussed this right and it was let's see what you lot think as well so I'm putting Harry Kane head and shoulders above everybody else right but if I had a game and I was going to pick a must striker for a game I would still pick Rooney I wouldn't win I was about to say the best performance I've ever seen in a tournament against France 2004 Rooney just that entire tournament was hands on your head just like 18 but I think he was unbelievable because he was against yeah that was like the levels of plays he was doing that against was insane was it Turam that he absolutely Turam all of them all of them Zidane Zidane had to hold something as well like everyone I'd look at him Rooney like we said Rooney just does Rooney could not score a goal in a game but still be man at a match and win the game and win the game without scoring here's one for you I saw this online I know the producers are going to be I saw online yesterday.

34:59It said Mbappe clears Rooney as a player. What, in the World Cups? Yeah. Well, in the World Cups, yes. But in general, as a player, they reckon Mbappe's now above Rooney. I think it's a conversation. I don't think it's like an outrageous statement. You can't just throw that and then say we're going to cook. Like, we need a whole episode. Next episode. I'm leaving it for the comments. Next episode. Get in the comments. Let's see what you think in the comments. We'll join it. That had me thinking. Before we go, have you enjoyed our villa? Loved it. Loved it. I thought the song would have been here.

35:32Killing us. Yeah. But nah, yeah, this place, one of the best places in the world. This is why you got to be part of the gang. You got to comment, man. You could be here in the villa with us. Do you know what I'm saying? Let us know. But it's been really good having you here. Much better show, you know what I mean? Having you here. Thank you very much. I know you were supporting Congo Deep Down, you know. No, Joe. I know you were. I know Bobby was supporting Congo. it's all good but listen thank you very much everybody for watching you have been brilliant Rio Ferdinand, Jody Nlescott, myself Joel Baer, Stephen Howson signing out peace

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