LegendHer0:


What do you mean by Igbos well ahead of the mighty Yorubas before the civil war? Are you even sure of what you’re saying, even late Azikwe will be ashamed of you.

Below is the New York time post in 1959 about the region of Nigeria before 1960.

The conservative North, 75 percent Muslim and containing about half of Nigeria's population, is governed by the Northern people's congress. The premier is Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, who carries the title of Saraduana of Sokoto.

In the East, where the intelligent, energetic Ibo tribes predominates the controlling party is the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, headed by one of the most dazzling of Nigerian politicians, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, premier of the Eastern region, who is known throughout the country as Zik.

In the somewhat more developed west, which is Yoruba Country, the government is run quite well, it is said by Chief Awolowo, an able politician, and his Action group. The West points with pride to its universal free primary education, free medical treatment for children up to 18years of age, agricultural planning and other social programs of which no other Nigerian region can boast of.

You can clearly see how the western region was described. We are the pioneer of the first among first in Nigerian history and I’m just surprised that you can even equate the Eastern region to the western region in terms of economic dominance

That’s absurd!

it will be nice for you to know who was the richer tribe pre-independence.
https://www.forbesafrica.com/wealth/2017/08/07/small-town-super-rich/

LegendHer0:
m

Where do you guys always see all this fake statistics. Which source give credence to the fact that Igbo owns more private business than Yorubas?

Can you provide one reputable sources to buttress your fact. Are you talking about standard business approved by CAC or you’re talking about informal businesses?

Do you know the number of Yorubas that are traders alone, either small scale or medium scaled?

Take the movie industry for example, the Yorubas are the one that controlled that industry with the highest generating gross revenue from movies. Kemi Adetiba and co.

See the music industry for example, the Yorubas clearly dominate that industry and the leading artist with high gross revenue are majorly Yorubas

Take the educational institutions for example, the Yorubas boast of the highest professor and the highest number of universities in this nation. We are home to the most private universities in Nigeria and Convenant university (Private) alone is ranked than any universities in the SE in terms of research!

I just give few examples to buttress my claim, can you give me one reputable source to claim the Igbos have the highest number of businesses in Nigeria?

you are too smart yet Imo state has the highest number of professors in Nigeria. How many yoruba men own viable businesses outside yoruba land aside from the super rich. Igbo people own big businesses in every state in Nigeria but your biased mind won't let u believe it. that is why I said Igbo people are richer looking at their spread of businesses.

Makuos19:


These are Industries Alone In Anambra State. Ibadan doesnt even have up to one quarter

Neimeth international pharmaceutical company

* Computer warehouse group

• Zinox IT firm biggest IT firm in Nigeria

* Afrihub ICT Center

* E-tranzact

* infosoft

* Socket

* Gigameet

* Hopspot

* Computer Warehouse group

* Clear essence cosmetics

* Middle point limited

* Blue Diamond logistics and shipping China, Dubia New jersey etc

* Baywood continental

* Global scan

* Knightburry

* Elcrest

* Woodpecker

* Nuel Ojei holding

* Denca service

* Omata holding

* Sea horse

* Crown energy

* Frazpo

* Viewsy limited

* Candel agrochemical plant

* Kaztec engineering and Fabrications

* Rimco Mining

* Beta computer

* Condata systems

• GBC Murphy Ltd

* Justeen Pharmaceuticals Limited

* Morison Industries Limited

• Emzor Pharmaceutical company

• Juhel pharmaceutical

• Greenlife pharm

* N.N.Fems Industries Ltd

• Nero pharm

* J. C. Udeozor Global Industries. produce and distribute Aboniki Balm

* Sims sole distributor of Samsung electrical products and Panasonic

* Ugolab Production Limited

* Gemini Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited

* Dizpharm (Nigeria) Limited

* Afrik Pharmaceuticals Limited

* Ebony pharmaceutical company first pharmaceutical company owned by a black in US

* Chemiron International Limited

* Frazoil

* WABECO Oil and Gas

* Emerald Oil and Gas

* Amexco Pharmaceutical Company Limited

• Embassy pharmaceutical

• Orange drugs

* Nestav

* OAS

* Quits Aviation Services Ltd

* Aiteo Oil exploration

• Chrisking pharmaceutical company

• Kingsize pharmaceutical

• Next international

• Ekulo group

* Giant Beverages

* Stanel group

* Heirs Holdings

* GUO transport

* Good is good

* Samco Haulage

* Ifex cargo

* 360Delivery

* Chisco transpot

* Young shall grow

* ABC tansport

* Ekene transport

* Dandalas Transport

* Ifeanyichukwu transport

* Okeyson transport

* Cross country transport

• Beloxxi food

• Erisco tomato paste biggest in tomato paste plant in Nigera

• Chikki food

• Teragro Benfruit juice concentrate plant

* Ovim tablet phones&Softwares

• Genesis group

• Jamek steel company

• Polystar group

* Sonia Industries

• Eastern steel company

* International Cement Company Ltd

• Witlux group

• Wichtech group

• Seplat oil and Gas largest private field operator in Nigeria

* Inter-Bau construction company

* Brawal Shipping (Nigeria) Limited

• Nestoil

• Century power

• Geometrics Power first independent power plant in Nigeria

• Capital oil and Gas

• Oilserv
•
Master energy

• Atlas petroleum

• Chrome energy

* Zebbra Energy

* He­bah Exploration and Production Com­pany Limited

• Brittania-U Nigeria Limited

• Tecno oil and Gas

• SPG Oil and Gas

• Tonimas group

• Airpeace

* Aghalieaku Airways

• Slok air

• Armak group


• Data Processing Maintenance And Services Limited

• Crunchies

• Tetrazine

• Peace assembling plant

• Richbon group

* N.N.Fems Industries Ltd

• Aqua Rapha

You are even glorifying them by listing all these

mercyville:
DO YOU HAVE THESE IN YOUR ENTIRE IGBOLAND?
YOU SEE HOW BACKWARD YOU ARE ;DDO YOU HAVE THESE IN YOUR ENTIRE IGBOLAND?
YOU SEE HOW BACKWARD YOU ARE

You better start travelling to other places, it will be good for you.
The problem is that most of you Yoruba folks don't visit other parts of the country.
Stay in your village and be yarning dust

mercyville:


Do we even have to argue with you when all indices showed that Yorubas are way richer than you with massive industries,holdings home and abroad and Ibadan being more developed than the entire SE.

Madam apart from Lagos which is what it is today because it was once the FCT, there is no Yoruba state better than SE in development which its a shame because the entire SE was destroyed during the civil war yet we caught with you guys without much FG intervention. Every Igbo man that had money in the bank were given 20 pounds each irrespective of how much you had in the bank before the war. That we are here today comparing who is better despite the setback is a shame to the entire SW region. You lots cant survive what igbos passed through, I am very sure of that. Even before the civil war, igbos were clearly ahead of you till the civil war set back.

There are many silent billionaires in Nigeria. You guys think only the Forbes rated are rich. For example, Victor Odili( though not Igbo) is the largest shareholder in Mtn Nigeria with a stake of 300 million USD. Have you ever heard of him? For him to have that kind of stake, he should be worth at least a billion USD. Is he in the Forbes list? No. That is how many billionaires don't make noise in Igboland. Imagine someone saying no igbobman is richer than Seyi Makinde that recently said he is worth 45 billion naira, that's not even up to 150 million USD.
My argument is that on the average, Igbos are richer than yorubas.

LegendHer0:


Hahahahaha mention one Igbo musician presently richer than Davido.

Oga, this is now trolling. Did any of them declare their assets to the public. I always want proof but you guys just make pronouncements because of hype and assumptions

LegendHer0:


Lol, I can clearly see that you are high. Can you see those places I listed is not Lagos? I listed Ibadan alone. How will Igbos dominate 40% of Ibadan traders for God sake? Are you sure you are okay bro!

Do you know what is called entrepreneurs? How will you say Igbos have lot of entrepreneurs than the Yoruba ? Haba all available evidence points to the contrary Mr. Man.

Please sir, educate me who is an entrepreneur? Most of you yorubas are into white collar jobs. Igbos own more private businesses than Yoruba's whether small, medium or large scale, it is still business.

LegendHer0:


Please read this thread as proof: This is almost 300 pages of the list of Yoruba entrepreneurs.

https://www.nairaland.com/3918290/yorubas-most-industriousrichest-educated-tribe

I don't read nairaland proofs man, find a credible site

mercyville:


lol
Your touts at upper iweka,aba etc are nothing to write home about.
Yorubas are not zombies like the Igbos who are 90 percent small scale traders.
Yorubas are evenly spread in all professions.This is why Yoruba is way,way richer than the Igbos.
Oluomo will buy all the touts in the SE.
Alakija only will pocket all the billionaires in the SE.
Falana will pocket all the lawyers in the SE and they are even few.
Doyin will pocket all the traders in and from the SE.
Sujibomi will pocket all the estate developers from SE and they are very few..
The list goes on..
Do you know that Yorubas are still the most successful business moguls from Nigeria staying abroad with massive firms.
Yorubas dominate the UK and are the greatest and highest remitters of foreign exchange remittances from abroad in Africa.
Yorubas are real silent achievers.They have been achievers even when some people were still learning how to wear clothes in 1921.

Proof ma

LegendHer0:


What are you talking about? Do you mean there ain’t Yorubas dealing in retail business ? Do you mean to say the main market Bodija, Ogunpa, Gate, Aleshinloye, etc in Ibadan for example are not consisted of rich traders?

You guys problem is that you’re under the fixation that everybody is in competition with you and you just boast over irrelevances.

An IT professional alone that is successful can generate millions of dollars in revenue in a short time, something a retailer might not be able to generate in their lifetime.

Look at all those Lace, ankara, and Aso Ebi market, do you know how much all those people generate? You’re just an example of empty vessels make the loudest noise.

The Yorubas practice a highly diversified economy, we have IT- Traders - industries- entrepreneurs- professionals -entertainers, etc. it’s not a must for everybody in a tribe to become traders coz that even showed your sub-level reasoning faculty.

And you think Igbos are not involved in IT, industries, professionals, entertainment. Infact, igbos have far more entrepreneurs than yorubas. You think the world begins and ends in Lagos alone.
All those markets you mentioned don't even close to Onitsha, ariaria and nnewi markets.
You know the funny thing, at least 40% of traders in those markets you mentioned are Igbos.

Every time they talk about richest, they bring up Adenugas, Alakijas. Those are not who you are supposed to be talking about. An average Igbo man hustles far more than an average Yoruba man. Majority of yorubas do white collar jobs, those that receive salaries are comfortable and not multimillionaires. You can't compare them to their Igbo counterparts who are majorly businessmen. You don't rate them because you see them in small shops but majority of those guys are multi-millionaires with assets that will surprise you. Many make your monthly salaries in a few hours.Most Igbo businessmen don't show off their wealth for fear of government clampdown that is why many are not rated by Forbes. If you don't know Forbes is by choice, you need to open up to them before they can rate you. Igbo people buy properties everywhere in Nigeria even in your Lagos, they own many properties.

On the average, Igbos are richer than yorubas.

Pigsandidiots:
Tell that to Nobel Laurette awardee

Fifa still recognizes Pele as the GOAT today. That's also how the world sees Achebe as the GOAT in african literature.
See all the articles posted previously on this thread as proof, simple.

LegendHer0:


Below in what? If they ask you now you will go and find an article that placed Achebe on top of Soyinka and use that as your “far above”.

Just like saying Salah is better than Ronaldo because he got the golden boot. Does that even make sense to you.

Wole Soyinka the only black man with a Nobel laureate other than the peace price. Come back here when any Igbo man dead or alive achieve that feat and stop disturbing us with jargons online.

Chinua Achebe is the greatest African author of all time.

Achebe was the author of the first African novel to be taken seriously by anglophone critics and to be influential outside Africa; and thus to demonstrate to his contemporaries that the thing could be done. That's no mean achievement in itself, and worth any number of prizes. African literature does not need the Nobel prize to be validated. Moreover, there were numerous arguments that Achebe was denied a Nobel during his lifetime because of his anticolonialist stance but that's story for another day.

That Ronaldo and Messi won many ballond'or doesn't make them greater than Pele that never won in the same vein that Wole Soyinka won the Nobel prize doesn't make him greater than Chinua Achebe.

LegendHer0:


What is even the crux of the matter. Based on what you posted, Emegwali did what most doctoral student always do, which is to add to knowledge and improve processes.

He did not invent any internet, all he did was to use the Los Alamos National laboratory connecting machine to increase that particular machine (computer) microprocessors speed.

What exactly is his invention other than improving the processes already in place. I’m willing to learn from you!

Presently we have what is called the K computer that can calculate 10 quadrillion per seconds which exceeds what was stated there about philips. This was in 2012.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/02/12/general/10000000000000000-calculations-per-second/#.XaMr7SUpCaM

After some years, that will also be modified to calculate more than that.

Currently these are the list of fastest computers and Philip’s is no where to be found in top 5. So what exactly are you guys taking about?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.networkworld.com/article/3236875/embargo-10-of-the-worlds-fastest-supercomputers.amp.html

Take note I never mentioned that he discovered the internet.

At Michigan, he participated in the scientific community's debate on how to simulate the detection of oil reservoirs using a supercomputer. Growing up in an oil-rich nation and understanding how oil is drilled, Emeagwali decided to use this problem as the subject of his doctoral dissertation. Borrowing an idea from a science fiction story about predicting the weather, Emeagwali decided that rather than using 8 expensive supercomputers he would employ thousands of microprocessors to do the computation.

The only step left was to find 8 machines and connect them. (Remember, it was the 80s.) Through research, he found a machine called the Connection Machine at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which had sat unused after scientists had given up on figuring out how to make it simulate nuclear explosions. The machine was designed to run 65,536 interconnected microprocessors. In 1987, he applied for and was given permission to use the machine, and remotely from his Ann Arbor, Michigan, location he set the parameters and ran his program. In addition to correctly computing the amount of oil in the simulated reservoir, the machine was able to perform 3.1 billion calculations per second.

The crux of the discovery was that Emeagwali had programmed each of the microprocessors to talk to six neighboring microprocessors at the same time.

The success of this record-breaking experiment meant that there was now a practical and inexpensive way to use machines like this to speak to each other all over the world. Within a few years, the oil industry had seized upon this idea, then called the Hyperball International Network creating a virtual world wide web of ultrafast digital communication.

The discovery earned him the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers' Gordon Bell Prize in 1989, considered the Nobel Prize of computing, and he was later hailed as one of the fathers of the Internet. Since then, he has won more than 100 prizes for his work and Apple computer has used his microprocessor technology in their Power Mac G4 model. Today he lives in Washington with his wife and son.

@the bolded was the invention that became the foundation for supercomputers. You shouldn't expect him to be among the fastest computer inventors you mentioned because that was 30 years ago.The world have moved past that stage but it still doesn't make his discovery irrelevant. Charles Babbage is regarded as the father of computer today not because we still use his analytical engine but because he laid the foundation for today's computer.

LegendHer0:


So what is this list you posted? The list that are full of politicians as greatest Africans is what you’re using as a measure of importance or intellect.

Obasanjo and George Weah is even also included in the list and I don’t have a choice but to question your sanity!

And that was the only list you saw from the post abi and if even if it is dominated by politicians why would Achebe always come before or rank higher than our Nobel winner Wole Soyinka.

That Sikiru Adepoju won a Grammy doesn't make him the greatest musician from Nigeria, in the same vein that Soyinka won the Nobel prize doesn't make him the greatest literary mind from Africa.
https://answersafrica.com/african-authors.html
https://www.risingafrica.org/storiescountry/world/top-5-most-influential-african-authors-of-all-time/
https://sanfranciscobookreview.com/the-top-7-african-writers-you-should-know/

In all these lists, Achebe ranked higher than Soyinka, why? Even if some might not be in a defined order, why must his name be mentioned first before Soyinka.

candidtalk:


Was Invictus Obi not once lauded by Forbes and other prestigious outlet till he was busted? Is it not exactly same for Emeagweali the big fraud who is now not even mentioned anymore?

Check it out below. Igboman in all his glory. Is this not how you were bragging with Invictus Obi yesterday when he was conning Forbes and the entire World?

https://face2faceafrica.com/article/new-details-emerge-on-arrest-of-forbes-celebrated-young-nigerian-billionaire-in-the-u-s-over-11m-fraud

I am not talking about invictus obi here. No tribe has monopoly of crime in Nigeria. Every tribe is involved in crime. Come to think of it , if all the politicians invest their stolen wealth in Nigeria and create employment like Invictus Obi did, would anybody complain. So leave Invictus matter

candidtalk:


Retard. You lot claim greatness yet your greatest hero, Emeagweali, is a discredited liar and scammer like Invictus Obi. Una no get shame.

Lol, discredited by nairaland and Sahara reporters. He won't be making such respectable list if he was scam as you and your Yoruba media claim
https://www.famousscientists.org/15-famous-black-scientists-in-history/

LegendHer0:


Do you have people schooling in the USA or working in corporate America?

The Yorubas are the most populous in USA universities and we are the most employed Nigerians in corporate America. I challenge any Igbo on here to dispute the fact.

In NSBE (National society of black Engineers) conferences in USA, the Yorubas are part of the main recruiters for Shell, Visa, Intel, Microsoft, Deloitte, etc.

If it was in the UK, I might believe you but in the US, I don't think so unless you show me a proof. Until then its a big lie especially being the most employed in corporate America.

PureFace1:


Phillip emegwali a well known lies inventor is only great in his village

You are the one displaying your ignorance

You must be living inside a cave if you don't know about invention from Yoruba

The Igbo will always be below us

Maybe you should try googling these names too;
Ndubuisi Ekekwe
Cyprian Emeka Uzor
Sebastian Chinonye Omeh
Ume Ifeanyi Charles
Aloysius Anaebonam
Emeka Nchekwube etc

Be honest to yourself, are these Yoruba inventors you listed above and the Igbo inventors I listed any where close to Philip Emeagwali in worldwide fame and acclaim?

Till you name one Yoruba that comes close, don't quote me again.

Guestlander:


Phillip Emeagwali had nothing to do with the invention of the internet. The internet had already been invented before he did his own experiment.

Did I ever mention he invented the internet? He used his mathematical and computer expertise to develop methods for extracting more petroleum from oil fields.
It was his formula that used 65,000 separate computer processors to perform 3.1 billion calculations per second in 1989. That feat led to computer scientists comprehending the capabilities of supercomputers and the practical applications of creating a system that allowed multiple computers to communicate. He is recognized as one of the fathers of the Internet.

candidtalk:


Emeagwali the fraud is greater than First Africa literature Nobel laureate? Who cursed you Igbos like this? You lot are just a bunch of Invictus Obi scamming claim to greatness while nothing but the biggest fraudsters and miscreants in Nigeria.

http://saharareporters.com/2010/10/18/how-philip-emeagwali-lied-his-way-fame

And you want me to believe Sahara reporters that even Nigerians know it's not reliable and also published by your kinsman. That Wole Soyinka won Nobel prize doesn't make him the greatest and most influential African author of all time, that title belongs to Chinua Achebe. His book Things fall apart is the best selling book from any African dead or alive. These are facts. Check out these links

https://www.risingafrica.org/storiescountry/world/top-5-most-influential-african-authors-of-all-time/

You can as well find other proof yourself.

Achebe and Soyinka's achievements are great but personally I don't regard them much because they don't affect me and majority of Nigerians in our everyday lives because we all use computers(including phones) daily but don't read plays and novel frequently.I will rate an innovator like Philip Emeagwali any day any time over those authors because his contribution to computer science far outweighs these two.

This is a CNN report if you like believe, if you like don't believe

http://edition.cnn.com/fyi/interactive/specials/bhm/story/black.innovators.html

https://www.famousscientists.org/15-famous-black-scientists-in-history/

PureFace1:



Look at this Pig from Aba calling others dirty

Yoruba is not like your inferrior Igbo race with the urge to beat chest and make noise like Gorilla apes.

When it come to achievement your whole Igbo race don't even come close to Yoruba in fact you are the inconsequential one making empty noise.

Chinua Achebe died knowing he was below Wole Soyinka

The first African to win a Nobel Laurette in Literature was a Yoruba

The first African to win a pulitzer( second greatest prize after Nobel Laurette) in Journalism was a Yoruba

A Yoruba is the first African member to join World Trade Board

A Yoruba is the first Nigerian journalist to be elected as Vice president of World Editors Forum

A Yoruba is the second richest black man in the world

A Yoruba woman is the second Richest woman in Africa

Meanwhile top five richest Nigerians you are no where to be found all you know how to do is beat chest about making some imaginary money.

Yoruba is also the only tribe in Nigeria with Grammy Award winners.

Yoruba also have the most influential men of God in Africa.



These are achievement the Igbo race may never achieve in the next 100 years

Just because chest beating is against our culture doesn't mean you should start saying trash against your superior.

The whole Igbo race is below Yoruba.

Help your useless life first before beating chest like a typical gorilla ape

Oga, Philip Emeagwali's work in computer science and mathematics is far far greater than all these achievements and records you listed here. His works made a very big impact in the world today and every living being in this world benefits one way or the other from his invention. Oga what do you benefit personally from Adenuga, Alakija, Adeboye, Oyedepo or even Wole Soyinka etc even as a Yoruba. Even all these first this first that (from Igbo, Yoruba or any other tribe) are absolutely nothing if it doesn't benefit Nigeria talk more of the world.
Till a Yoruba invents something that will highly impact the world positively, the igbos lead you for now because of Philip Emeagwali.

nasoeb:

Thats because igbos probably originated from ikwerre. Or do you know the origin of your so called igbos. Please Don't run away. Come and tell us if you think igbo didnt originate from ikwerre, or wait, your are one of the jews

All these minority ethnic groups that speak Igbo language ( or slight variations of it) and bear complete Igbo names ( both first and surnames) and still deny their Igbo ancestry baffle me. The last time I checked, Igbo is one of the 3 major ethnic groups in Nigeria, so how come a major tribe(Igbo) will originate from a minor tribe(ikwerre). You guys should leave Igbo language alone, bear your own names and coin your own language. FYI, that your Igbo name will still put you in trouble if another civil war arises because a typical Hausa/Fulani man will still see you as Igbo unlike the efiks, ibibios, urhobos etc that have their own distinct languages and names that they don't share with anybody. Make una dey deceive yourselves, Peter Odili, Chibuike Amaechi, Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Okowa, Ned Nwoko, Peter Nwaoboshi etc are your governors and senators yet you deny having Igbo ancestry.

umuna:


You zip your mouth! it is ikwerre language and not igbo. it is only those biafrud that will be claiming what is not in other states. Stay in your land locked state please. it is pronouced oyingbo and not oyibo! get that into that your thick skull! you guys have rushed into these LGA to claim that they are Igbos.

Then how come your governors bear Igbo names? Its Oyigbo, not Oyingbo

chinos20:

Won the champions league? All thanks to Salah and Mane

Oga Mane, Salah and Firmino were in Liverpool when they were playing beautiful football but weren't winning trophies because they shipped insane number of goals which derailed them. Van dyk became the best impact signing we have seen in a long while. He gave them a solid balance and turned Liverpool's defence into the best in Europe. This foundation helped them to win the champions league. There is a saying that attack win you games but defence win you trophies. This was what Merson meant by taking a team to another level. You can't compare his goal scoring return to messi's but he still chipped in vital goals in the knockout rounds. Remember he wasn't dribbled past even by Messi. Compare his stats to cannavaro that won world best and confirm to yourself that he was robbed.

LA LIGA IS ALWAYS FAVOURED

In 2010, Sneijder won the treble with inter and was the best player for inter Milan that year, reached the world cup final winning 4 man of the match awards, silver ball and bronze boot. He also won the best midfielder and top assist provider in the champions league that year. Yet he didn't even make the first 3 spots of FIFA best.

In 2018, Modric another attacking midfielder won the champs league with Real Madrid. In his case he was an integral member of the squad but not the best Madrid player in that tournament unlike sneijder who was the driving force for his team. He also won the best midfielder in Uefa and golden ball at the world cup reaching the world cup final too.

Overall, Modric's stats were inferior to Sneijder's stats but Modric won the World best while Sneijder didn't make the Final 3. In both cases, there was clear double standard.

In conclusion, I think the bias is generally towards LA liga (real n barca) against other leagues. Both Messi and Ronaldo have benefitted from this. The same Ronaldo also fell victim last year. If he hadn't left Madrid, he would have won last year, the same way Messi won Sneijder in 2010 because Ronaldo and Messi's individual stats were far superior to Modric and Sneijder respectively. The same shit has repeated again this year.

Paul Merson was deeply unhappy with the decision to award the Fifa Men’s Player of the Year prize to Lionel Messi and believes it’s ‘an absolute joke’ that Virgil van Dijk wasn’t honoured in Milan on Monday night. Messi, who scored 51 goals in 50 games last season, pipped Van Dijk and great rival Cristiano Ronaldo to the prestigious men’s prize to replace Luka Modric as the official best player on the planet. Van Dijk was the favourite to scoop the award after playing an integral role in Liverpool’s run to the Champions League title, while he also reached the Nations League final with the Netherlands.
And Merson was astonished that he was overlooked for the top prize on a night where his manager Jurgen Klopp was hailed as the world’s best manager.
Asked if Messi deserved the award, Merson replied: ‘No. No. It’s a joke. Sorry, it’s a joke. ‘He’s just done what he’s done every season. He hasn’t taken them to another level. He didn’t take them to win the Champions League. That’s what Barcelona are all about. ‘How many does he get against Alaves? You win it because you’ve done something special. Van Dijk has done something special. They’ve won the Champions League, Liverpool. ‘That’s what Barcelona wanted to win. If you asked Barcelona what do you want to win the league or the Champions League? They’d’ve gone the Champions League. ‘For me it’s an absolute joke, that. An absolute joke.

‘You know why he’s won that? Because that started in 2016, Ronaldo won it the first two years and then Modric won it last year. So they’ve got to give Messi it. ‘What does Van Dijk have to do? He’s taken Holland to the final of the European thing… I just can’t. He took them to another level. ‘Messi has not taken Barcelona to another level last year. He never took them to another level, he’s just done what he does all the time. Van Dijk took this Liverpool team to an absolute other level.

Asked if Van Dijk would win it next year if he had the same season again, Merson added: ‘It’d be hard for him to win it. ‘After what he’s done. Can he go to another level? Can he play any better? The lad probably is at his peak. If he’s got any more gears he’s going to be the best ever. ‘It’s all about the moment, it’s all about now. He should have won this. He should have won it. ‘If he wins the Premier League next season but they don’t win the Champions League, is that Fifa? They don’t care, what are they worried about? They don’t worry about our league. The best XI players always come out of La Liga in the Team of the Year, we never get a Premier League player in it.’


Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/23/absolute-joke-paul-merson-fumes-lionel-messi-winning-player-year-virgil-van-dijk-10796079/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

SPOT ON..............I think this was the reason ballon d'or separated from FIFA. Fifa awards are popularity contests just look at the fifpro 11, what are Ramos and Marcelo doing there despite Madrid being trash last season.