Boxing Champion Usyk Snubs Lionel Messi to Name the Greatest Argentine Soccer Player in His Book

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk not only has a keen interest in the sweet science but also the incredible game of soccer or football. The Ukrainian boxer has been an avid fan of the sport for a long time, which shouldn’t be surprising as his country does have a great footballing culture.

Moreover, the country has produced some world-class players, including Andriy Shevchenko, Oleg Blokhin, and many more. Despite this, Usyk’s favorite football player is not one of his countrymen but rather an Argentine legend.

Oleksandr Usyk reveals his favorite football players

In a recent interview, ‘The Cat’ revealed who his favorite player was. He first stated that Shevchenko was his favorite Ukrainian player. He even went off to praise English legend Wayne Rooney, citing him as his favorite British player. However, he claimed that Argentine soccer legend Gabriel Batistuta was his favorite player ever.

“My favourite Ukrainian is Andriy Shevchenko. When I was a boy, I adored Gabriel Batistuta. Among English players, I admired Wayne Rooney. My final answer – Batistuta.” he said.

Read More: Oleksandr Usyk, Who Defeated Artur Beterbiev in Amateurs, Advices Anthony Yarde Ahead of January 2023 Bout

Batistuta is considered to be a legend in the sport, with most of his accomplishments coming from his country. He is the second-highest goal scorer for Argentina in World Cups behind only Lionel Messi. He is also the only person to score two hat tricks in two different world cups. While today’s generation might not know his feats, he was certainly a world-class player during his time.

The time Usyk made his football debut

Back in 2o22, while Usyk was on a break to prepare for his rematch against Anthony Joshua, he dabbled a little in the world of football. Moreover, he went on to make his professional debut during this time. ‘The Cat’ came on as a substitute for the second-division team FC Polissya in a friendly match.

He entered the match in the 76th minute, while his side led UPL Veres 2-1 in the Winter Cup. It was reported that Usyk was training under the club during their winter training camp. Usyk would certainly benefit from this experience, as he would beat ‘AJ’ once again to cement his status as the best heavyweight boxer in the world. Now, he has his sights set on WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury who he will likely face this year for the undisputed championship.

What did you think about Usyk’s choice? Let us know in the comments.

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