Chapter 259 Su Luo, Messi, Ronaldo's Peak Duel!

Before Su Luo, most fans and many stars agreed that Messi was the best player in the world. No one else came close.

Sure, there were times when Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Messi, and his team success helped strengthen his case. This led many fans to criticize Messi, calling him a "system player" and claiming, "If he played in the Premier League, he'd be useless."

Arguments like these were common.

But many players who have played with or against Messi and Ronaldo have said the same thing:

"Ronaldo is incredibly strong. He's reached the peak of what a human being can achieve. But Messi's talent is almost supernatural."

Messi's skillset goes beyond his footwork or football IQ. His greatest weapon is the speed at which he processes the game and reacts. He's always a split second faster than anyone else.

It's like comparing martial arts techniques in a wuxia novel. No matter how strong your skills are, Messi is always one step ahead, able to defeat you with a subtle move.

Defenders barely have time to react to him. Messi doesn't need flashy dribbling tricks like Ronaldinho or Neymar. He rarely does bicycle kicks or fancy moves. He just keeps it simple, waits for defenders to commit, and then strikes—always faster, always smarter.

That's why, even when surrounded by defenders, Messi always seems to find a way out, dismantling their tactics with ease.

It's Messi's brilliance that constantly pushed Ronaldo to work harder, to always try to surpass him and claim the title of the world's best.

This fierce rivalry also led Ronaldo to make some hasty decisions. Frustrated that Real Madrid wouldn't increase his wages, he moved to Juventus, hoping to win the Champions League and solidify his legacy.

At the time, Juventus was always a contender for the Champions League, frequently reaching the semi-finals or final. Ronaldo thought he could push them over the edge, like a tiger with wings. But things didn't go as planned.

Juventus struggled in the Champions League, while Real Madrid, without Ronaldo, flourished. Benzema stepped up, leading the team to another Champions League title.

This only made Ronaldo more anxious. As Juventus declined, he became desperate to find another team that could help him chase Champions League glory.

When he returned to Manchester United, he started strong, scoring crucial goals in almost every game. But the team around him faltered, and Ronaldo's dream of being the best in the world slipped further away.

Then came the final blow: Messi won the World Cup, cementing his place as the greatest of all time (GOAT).

At two years older than Messi, Ronaldo's physical condition has begun to decline, and it's clear he can't recover to his peak form.

With no other options, Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia to chase wealth, aiming to at least surpass Messi in terms of earnings.

And so, after more than a decade of competition, the battle for the world's best came to an end. Messi had the last laugh.

Their era has come to a close, and now football fans are looking at the next big rivalry: Mbappe vs. Haaland.

Su Luo isn't sure if there will be even more dominant stars after 2023, but right now, the football world is experiencing a "Three Kingdoms" era, with Su Luo, Messi, and Ronaldo competing for dominance.

Some Chinese fans even compare the three players to historical figures: Su Luo as Cao Wei, Ronaldo as Shu Han, and Messi as Soochow.

The only thing Su Luo lacks is experience and a track record. He's won a Ballon d'Or, two league titles, a League Cup, a German Cup, and reached a Champions League semi-final. But these achievements still fall short compared to Messi and Ronaldo.

This is why the upcoming Chelsea vs. Barcelona match is so crucial. The Champions League is at stake.

Real Madrid faces Juventus in their semi-final, and most predict they'll make it to the final. This year's Champions League will likely be a battle between the world's top three players: Messi, Ronaldo, and Su Luo.

Whoever wins the Champions League will take a huge step forward in their legacy, while the others will be left to pick up the pieces.

Recently, all three players have been laser-focused on winning the Champions League.

On the eve of the semi-finals, Madrid TV interviewed all three.

Ronaldo, always confident, made sure his hair was perfectly styled for the camera.

"There's no doubt in my mind—Real Madrid will win the Champions League, no matter who we face in the final," Ronaldo declared. "The Ballon d'Or I missed out on will be mine again this year."

"Messi and Su Luo are great, but I'm stronger," he added with his trademark swagger.

Messi, interviewed after a late training session, looked serious. He furrowed his brow, clearly prepared to give everything on the field.

"There's nothing to say, really," Messi said. "It all comes down to what happens on the pitch. Our attack is one of the best in the world, and the team is in great shape."

"Our goal, of course, is to win the Champions League."

"Su is incredible. Scoring six goals in five minutes—that's something I've never seen."

"But the Champions League isn't just about individual goals. It's about the team's overall performance. And I'm confident we'll reach the final."

Despite his words, Messi's expression betrayed a hint of uncertainty. He had never faced Su Luo before and didn't know what to expect.

As for Su Luo, the Madrid TV reporters finally caught up with him—not at the hotel, but at Razzmatazz, one of Barcelona's most famous nightclubs.

Surprised, the reporters wondered if Su Luo was really partying the night before the big match. Was it true that he hit the nightclub before such an important game?

It was an unusual sight. The Chelsea management allowed Su Luo to go, and he was confident enough to be out just before the clash with Barcelona.

The reporters wanted to see Su Luo's state and capture any sign of weakness.

When Su Luo finally emerged, he was surprisingly sober. His hair, unlike Ronaldo's meticulously styled look, was a bit messy after dancing, but it carried a kind of carefree, effortless charm. His good looks made any hairstyle work.

"Huh? Ronaldo and Messi?" Su Luo said, raising an eyebrow. "They're both great."

"As for who's the best among the three of us? Whoever performs better will be the best."

He answered the reporters in fluent Spanish, leaving them a bit puzzled. Then, his expression turned serious.

"They've already won the Champions League. I haven't, so I'm going to fight for this one."

"Even if God himself came to challenge me, he'd only get second place. It's that simple."

After dropping that bold statement, Su Luo got into his Bugatti and drove off, leaving the reporters staring at each other in disbelief.

It took a moment for the reporter from Madrid TV to react.

"Is he really that arrogant? Does he not take Messi and Ronaldo seriously?"

Another reporter clicked his tongue, "Well, he has reason to be confident. Who else can score six goals in five minutes?"

"In any case, tomorrow's game is going to be something special."

The next day, Madrid TV aired the interview featuring Su Luo, Ronaldo, and Messi, instantly sparking buzz across the internet.

Various news outlets quickly picked up the story, and with only a few hours left until the match, the interviews had already created a charged atmosphere for the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Headlines from the pro-Barcelona Mundo Deportivo and pro-Real Madrid Marca quickly hit the newsstands:

"Even God Can Only Finish Second: Su Luo's Bold Claim of Champions League Victory"

"Young Chinese Star Takes on Messi and Ronaldo"

"A Rookie Not Afraid of Legends: Can Su Luo Really Outshine Messi and Ronaldo?"

The media outlets were quick to criticize Su Luo's confidence. How could he be so sure of victory when the game hadn't even started? And at Camp Nou, no less!

World Sports Daily, a strong supporter of Barcelona, confidently declared:

"Just because Chelsea beat Atlético Madrid doesn't mean they're invincible. Barcelona will stop them in their tracks."

The Barcelona camp was equally assured, with MSN—Messi, Suárez, and Neymar—deemed unbeatable.

Even if Chelsea managed to get past Barcelona, Marca claimed, "Real Madrid won't fear them. After all, Madrid has the most Champions League final experience!"

They noted that the core of Madrid's 2013 Champions League-winning team was still intact. In finals, experience and mental toughness matter just as much as raw talent.

Naturally, Barcelona's Gerard Piqué and Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos joined the war of words to back their teammates.

Piqué said, "Remember, this is Camp Nou. I won't let anyone come here and walk all over us."

Ramos was equally confident: "It doesn't matter who reaches the final. If we get there, we win."

What started as a rivalry between two giants quickly escalated into a three-way war of words. The tension was sky-high before the match even began.

Juventus, meanwhile, remained quiet, seemingly forgotten in the heated debate. Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio took to Twitter:

"Is no one taking us seriously? We've got what it takes to reach the final too!"

Unfortunately for him, the tweet received only around 100 likes and shares, with less than 50 comments. His plea was drowned out by the tidal wave of attention focused on Barcelona and Chelsea.

As the starting lineups for the Barcelona-Chelsea clash were announced, social media erupted. Shares, likes, and comments skyrocketed into the millions.

Marchisio, sitting quietly in his locker room, couldn't help but feel overlooked.

Two hours before kick-off, Barcelona's official lineup for the semi-final was revealed:

Goalkeeper: Ter Stegen

Defenders: Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba

Midfielders: Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta

Forwards: Suárez, Neymar, Messi

The iconic 4-3-3 formation, featuring the legendary MSN trio, took center stage. While their midfield was their strongest setup, Barcelona fans couldn't help but worry about their defense. Umtiti, in particular, was seen as a potential weak link.

On the other side, Chelsea also announced their strongest lineup. After a series of injuries, many key players had recovered just in time for this crucial match.

Chelsea's starting lineup looked formidable:

Goalkeeper: Courtois

Defenders: Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Rüdiger

Midfielders: Willian, Matic, Kanté, Marcos Alonso

Forwards: Hazard, Lukaku, Su Luo

Both teams had arrived at the stadium, making their final preparations in the locker room.

The Champions League semi-final was about to begin, and the world was ready to witness one of the most anticipated matches in football history.

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