Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has named a star-studded five-a-side line-up ahead of the World Cup.
The young Gunners star looks a certainty to be included in Gareth Southgate ’s England squad for the upcoming tournament in Qatar and will be hopeful of writing himself into Three Lions’ folklore having previously starred for the Three Lions as they reached the Euro 2020 final.
Ahead of the World Cup, Saka was tasked with naming his dream five-a-side team and predictably picked some of the planet’s best players of all time, whilst also selecting a number of members from Brazil’s iconic 2002 title-winning squad in Japan and South Korea.
The Arsenal winger, speaking as part of Beats by Dre's Defy the Noise campaign, said: “I’ll go R9 [Brazilian Ronaldo], Cr7 [ Cristiano Ronaldo ], Messi, Iniesta, Ronaldinho.”
Whilst Portuguese forward Ronaldo and Messi are the only members of Saka’s squad to have never won the World Cup, Saka still believes the former played his part in one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history with a memorable treble against Spain four years ago.
“A moment that comes to mind is Cristiano Ronaldo against Spain [ Russia, 2018],” Saka continued. “He got a hat trick that game as well, crazy performance!”
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The Manchester United forward, now 37, is likely to be playing at the final World Cup of his career. He has previously made 17 appearances in previous finals - a run that stretches back to the 2006 edition in Germany.
Ronaldo has netted seven goals in that time and will certainly be hopeful of adding to that record later this month.
Whilst he is edging close to the twilight of his career, the same cannot be said of Saka who is embarking on his first World Cup. It will be different to any before with it being played in the winter but the 21-year-old has claimed that he is not approaching it any different.
He said: “My preparations haven’t changed, I am focused on the games ahead with Arsenal right now but at the same time it’s in the back of my mind that I’ll have a chance to play at a World Cup in November. Personally, it will be my first World Cup too so it’s quite exciting when you think about it.”
Saka has two further opportunities to impress for Arsenal ahead of the World Cup with the Gunners taking on Premier League rivals Brighton in the Carabao Cup, whilst they round off their domestic commitments by travelling to Wolves at the weekend.
Saka will then turn his attentions to England’s group opener in Qatar against Iran.
