Wilfried Zaha just made a choice that will raise some eyebrows. When asked to build his perfect footballer, the Charlotte FC winger picked Arjen Robben over Lionel Messi for the best left foot in football. That's right – he chose the Bayern Munich legend over the guy who's scored 752 goals with his left foot.
In a fun segment with Charlotte FC, Zaha went through different attributes for his ideal player. For the right foot, he went with Cristiano Ronaldo – no surprises there. But the left foot pick? That's where things got interesting.
Messi has the record for most left-footed goals in football history. He's widely considered one of the greatest players ever, with over 800 career goals total. Other left-footed stars like Mohamed Salah and Antoine Griezmann don't even come close to his numbers.
But Zaha stuck with Robben, the Dutch winger famous for cutting inside from the right wing onto his left foot. For what it's worth, Robben's left foot was absolutely lethal during his prime years at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Zaha's Complete Perfect Player
The former Crystal Palace star didn't stop at just feet. He picked Gareth Bale for speed – a solid choice given the Welshman's devastating pace. Brazilian powerhouse Adriano got the nod for strength, which makes sense if you ever saw him play.
For finishing ability, Zaha chose the original Ronaldo – Ronaldo Nazario. When it came to football IQ, he couldn't decide between Barcelona legends Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. Can you blame him? Both were absolute geniuses on the pitch.
When Zaha Faced Messi
Here's where it gets spicy. Back in September 2024, before Charlotte FC faced Inter Miami, Zaha sent a clear message to Messi. He acknowledged the Argentine as the GOAT but said once the whistle blows, none of that matters.
"I know he's the GOAT – it's Ronaldo and Messi – but as soon as I'm playing against you, I couldn't care less about all that stuff," Zaha said before the match. Charlotte was chasing their ninth win, and Zaha was locked in on that goal.
His confidence wasn't just talk. Charlotte FC absolutely demolished Inter Miami 3-0 at the Bank of America Stadium. For bettors who took a chance on Charlotte as underdogs that day, it paid off handsomely. Both Zaha and Messi currently play in MLS, so we'll likely see more matchups between these two strong personalities.
Zaha joined Charlotte in January 2025 on loan from Turkish side Galatasaray. The deal runs through January 2026, making him a Designated Player for the MLS club. His presence has added real quality to Charlotte's attack, and his fearless attitude makes every match interesting – especially when facing superstar opponents.
