Lewandowski to Blackburn, Messi Playing for Spain and More

Soccer, and certainly many sports activities for that matter, are outlined by fleeting moments in time, split-second selections and era-defining calls which have a bearing on historical past itself.

I’m certain a lot of our readers have contemplated a few of soccer’s greatest ‘what-ifs’, whether or not it’s a controversial on-field resolution or an oh-so-nearly switch to your favorite staff. We’re looking at a number of the pivotal moments within the sport’s historical past that might effectively have modified the tapestry of soccer as we all know it.

Bojan Krkic Fulfilling His Potential

Rising on the scene three years after Lionel Messi, Barcelona couldn’t fairly imagine their luck as one other once-in-a-generation expertise handed by way of La Masia. It’s extensively reported that Bojan scored over 900 objectives for numerous youth groups having joined the membership as an eight-year-old.

Slight in construct with mesmerising tempo, fast toes and an inherent knack for locating the web, Bojan was strikingly just like Messi, who he surpassed because the youngest participant to characteristic for the membership 19 days after turning 17.

Bojan Krkic may have conquered the world ?pic.twitter.com/0PGuPZhbrw

— Wyngback (@wyngback) August 11, 2021

Whereas comparisons between the 2 have been unavoidable, this was finally the reason for his downfall because the strain of expectation weighed heavy, inflicting {the teenager} to expertise nervousness and psychological well being points which had an hostile have an effect on on his performances.

Had his profession continued on an upward trajectory, there is no such thing as a doubt he can be among the many best strikers of this technology.

Now 31, he plys his commerce in Japan with Vissel Kobe alongside former Blaugrana teammate Andres Iniesta.

Robert Lewandowski’s Proposed Transfer to Blackburn Rovers 

Rewind to January 2010, the Icelandic volcano Grimsvotn erupts sending a monumental ash cloud sweeping by way of the skies of Europe, which brings business aviation to a halt.

This features a scheduled flight on which now-Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski was purported to board, that was headed for England to ensure that the Pole to safe a transfer to Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers.

Extensively considered one of many best marksman in world soccer, he would finally make the swap from Poznan to Borussia Dortmund, main him on a path to Bayern Munich the place he would win eight Bundesliga titles and a Champions League, in addition to register 344 objectives in 375 video games.

Who is aware of, possibly a younger Lewandowski would have lifted the Riversiders to their former title-winning glory.

Steven Gerrard Didn’t Slip Towards Chelsea

For each Liverpool fan, the twenty seventh April 2014 was a dagger of their hearts, however none extra so than for membership captain Steven Gerrard.

A return to the glory days, a primary title in 24 years…these have been the ideas racing by way of each Reds fan’s thoughts forward of their conflict with Chelsea at Anfield.

With 35 video games performed, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool have been on the summit with 80 factors, Manchester Metropolis trailed them by three and Chelsea have been third with 75.

Quick-forward to the dying embers of the second half, Mamadou Sakho’s easy five-yard cross by no means reaches its supposed goal as Gerrard slips, permitting the on-rushing Demba Ba to pounce and slot residence what turned out to be the primary of two objectives for the Blues.

Metropolis would go on to win the title that 12 months, and Gerrard’s excellent send-off as a Premier League profitable captain would by no means come.

It’s also fascinating to notice different attainable outcomes, such because the rise in Brendan Rodgers’ inventory as a title-winning supervisor, a attainable long-term profession at Liverpool for Raheem Sterling, in addition to whether or not Liverpool’s now-Champions League and Premier League profitable supervisor Jurgen Klopp would ever have made the swap to Merseyside.

Lionel Messi Opting to Symbolize Spain

Regardless of main Argentina to a World Cup remaining again in 2014, Lionel Messi’s worldwide profession might effectively have been much more fruitful had he chosen to signify Spain.

That’s proper, arguably the best participant to ever grace a soccer pitch was eligible to signify La Roja who he certified for as a result of a Catalan nice grandfather, born in Balaguer, Spain.

Regardless of being born and raised in his native Argentina within the metropolis of Rosario, Messi has spent the vast majority of his life dwelling in Spain having relocated on the age of 13. Regardless, the seven-time Ballon D’or winner swore fealty to La Albiceleste from a younger age, citing the fervour he felt for his nation and the enjoyment he used to get watching replays of the nice staff of 1986.

Throughout Messi’s enjoying profession Spain grew to become essentially the most profitable worldwide staff of all time, profitable two European Championships in addition to a World Cup, wherein a lot of his Barcelona teammates featured.

There isn’t any doubt the majestical Argentine would have solely added to their unprecedented success, and will effectively have pushed them on to safe additional trophies.

Barcelona Appoint Jose Mourinho As an alternative of Pep Guardiola 

The 12 months is 2008, Barcelona supervisor Frank Rijkaard has simply been sacked after a massively underwhelming season, additional compounded by a crushing defeat on the Bernabeau to champions Actual Madrid.

With the Blaugrana hierarchy eager to search out an sufficient alternative, Jose Mourinho determined to throw his personal hat into the ring having been axed by Chelsea in his emphatic first stint in west London. The self-confessed ‘Particular One’ was Bobby Robson’s translator in the course of the Englishman’s stint as supervisor in Catalonia, and knew the membership effectively.

The enigmatic Portuguese even ready a presentation wherein he delved deep into the present squad, particular person participant roles and the way he would try to enhance them after a troublesome finish to Rijkaard’s reign.

If it hadn’t been for former legend and supervisor Johan Cruyff, Mourinho would have nearly definitely been appointed. As an alternative, the Dutchman urged president Joan Laporta to take a look at former captain Pep Guardiola, who was the Barcelona B coach on the time. As everyone knows, this appointment turned out to be a shrewd one because the Spaniard led them to a historic treble in his debut season as supervisor.

Mourinho would finally make the transfer to Spain, as a substitute taking on at Actual Madrid the place he would kind a bitter public feud with Guardiola, leading to some of the poisonous on-field rivalries in current historical past. There isn’t any doubt Mourinho would have additionally been successful at Barcelona, however Guardiola elevated that staff, and extra importantly Lionel Messi, to a degree not often ever witnessed.

Ronaldo Enjoys an Harm-Free Profession

‘Il Fenomeno’. R9. Some of the revered strikers ever to grace the pitch, but in addition a profession blighted by damage.

It’s testomony to his high quality that regardless of struggling the vast majority of his profession with a critical knee damage, the Brazilian remains to be regarded among the many goalscoring greats.

Two World Cups, two Copa Americas, numerous trophies at membership degree with the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan and Actual Madrid, in addition to two Ballon D’ors, there is no such thing as a doubting Ronaldo had an extremely fruitful profession.

Nonetheless, a horrific damage sustained in November of 1999 massively hampered his skills. Whereas he would go on to win a World Cup and several other membership trophies, his scary velocity, elasticity on the ball and peerless energy was by no means fairly recaptured.

Whereas Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have had astonishing profession trajectories which have see each report breaking statistics and mind-blowing longevity, we query whether or not Ronaldo can be considered the best of all time had he maintained his devastating kind from earlier in his profession.

Roman Abramovich Purchases Tottenham As an alternative of Chelsea

The arrival of Roman Abramovich in English soccer triggered a seismic shift in membership possession, which has seen the Premier League’s inventory skyrocket into the incomprehensibly profitable advertising behemoth we see at present.

Fortunately for Chelsea, they have been the beneficiaries of Abramovich’s countless provide of oil cash, thus setting in movement a 20-year interval of success which oversaw 5 Premier League titles and a Champions League.

It might effectively have been a vastly completely different story nevertheless, because the Russian additionally registered curiosity in Tottenham whereas looking for his subsequent funding again in 2003.

“Abramovich’s right-hand man rang me. He desires to purchase a membership in London. Spurs or Chelsea? I stated, ‘What does he wish to do?’ He stated he desires to win. I stated, ‘So purchase Chelsea. You need to change half the staff. Tottenham it’s a must to change the entire staff.’”

– Sven-Goran Eriksson pic.twitter.com/GpnMi1jGK3

— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) October 13, 2019

Chelsea might by no means have seen success arrive at Stamford Bridge, whereas Spurs’ dismal current historical past would nearly definitely have been flipped on its head with substantial funding, bringing an finish to a primary league title since 1961.