Juventus star Paul Pogba has developed into of the best midfielders in the modern game since moving to Turin, but the Frenchman is determined to improve further.
The 23-year-old has set high targets for himself, insisting that he hates losing and intends to become the world’s best player. In a bold statement, Pogba also went on to say that he wanted to surpass the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona.
“I want to become a legend, like Pele or Maradona,” Pogba said to La Repubblica [via Goal.com]. “Or more than them. I’m not trying to say that I’m the strongest, only that I want to be.”
Pogba started out in the Manchester United academy, but made the switch to Juventus in 2012. This was the turning point in his career, as he went on to cement his place in the Bianconeri squad alongside great midfielders like Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio.
The Frenchman made 27 appearances at Juventus in his first season at the club as a 20-year-old. Pogba has gone from strength to strength since then, picking up four Serie A titles along the way.
The 23-year-old believes that it is this winning mentality that has helped him clinch all these titles. He said, “I have a problem: I hate to lose. And I like to be different, I want to do what nobody else has done. I work hard because I aim to become perfect and because it makes me happy when I win.”
A challenger to the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly?
There have been few challengers to this duopoly, with Barcelona forward Neymar (who finished third to Messi and Ronaldo in the 2015 Ballon d’Or best player award) looking like one of the strongest contenders. However, Pogba has also emerged as one of Europe’s best players in recent years, even making it to the FIFA Team of the Year in 2015.
While Juventus were knocked out of the Champions League, a good showing by Pogba in the Euro 2016 tournament with France could well propel him ahead of Neymar in this race. With age on his side, Pogba might just be the player in the best position to break the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly in world football.
Juventus star Paul Pogba has developed into of the best midfielders in the modern game since moving to Turin, but the Frenchman is determined to improve further.
The 23-year-old has set high targets for himself, insisting that he hates losing and intends to become the world’s best player. In a bold statement, Pogba also went on to say that he wanted to surpass the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona.
“I want to become a legend, like Pele or Maradona,” Pogba said to La Repubblica [via Goal.com]. “Or more than them. I’m not trying to say that I’m the strongest, only that I want to be.”
Pogba started out in the Manchester United academy, but made the switch to Juventus in 2012. This was the turning point in his career, as he went on to cement his place in the Bianconeri squad alongside great midfielders like Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio.
The Frenchman made 27 appearances at Juventus in his first season at the club as a 20-year-old. Pogba has gone from strength to strength since then, picking up four Serie A titles along the way.
The 23-year-old believes that it is this winning mentality that has helped him clinch all these titles. He said, “I have a problem: I hate to lose. And I like to be different, I want to do what nobody else has done. I work hard because I aim to become perfect and because it makes me happy when I win.”
A challenger to the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly?
There have been few challengers to this duopoly, with Barcelona forward Neymar (who finished third to Messi and Ronaldo in the 2015 Ballon d’Or best player award) looking like one of the strongest contenders. However, Pogba has also emerged as one of Europe’s best players in recent years, even making it to the FIFA Team of the Year in 2015.
While Juventus were knocked out of the Champions League, a good showing by Pogba in the Euro 2016 tournament with France could well propel him ahead of Neymar in this race. With age on his side, Pogba might just be the player in the best position to break the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly in world football.