Look up to Paul Pogba. The french midfielder is currently wearing #10 for the best team in Italy, Juventus, and is just about all you could want from a footballer. He would be so even if he existed only on the pitch, that’s how good his skills, are.
It takes more than just skills be a great player however, and Pogba has shown time and time again he has has exceptional character as well.
He recently displayed that exceptional character in defense of his own ambition; an act that easily could have come off as arrogant. Instead, Pogba was admirable as he defended himself that other great players.
Pogba starts off by addressing the question of selfishness in great players:
“If [Barcelona's Leo] Messi scores, does that make him selfish?” said Pogba according to football-italia. “No, being strong lets you help the team. Take Cristiano Ronaldo. He sets himself some incredibly high objectives, he's ambitious, he wants to beat every record, he wants the Ballon D'Or. That's not selfishness.”
He then talks about his own goals, and about how what he has accomplished so far isn’t enough for him.
“I've only won four Scudetti. They're not enough for me. I've always been like this, people called me crazy but I want to make history and become the strongest midfielder ever.”
Pogba and Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri. Photo: @RdP_Barcelone | Twitter
“I'd like to surpass [Frank] Lampard. I want to be the midfielder who can do everything, and at the highest levels. Shooting, dribbling, scoring, defending. I want to be like Lampard, but better.”
Well, Pogba already can shoot, dribble, score, and defend with the best in the world:
He certainly doesn’t have much further to go to be on par with Lampard in terms of ability, I would argue he is already greater. As far as accomplishments go, as far being known as the best fielder of all time, well, there's quite a bit of work left to do.
If Pogba keeps saying all the right things off the field and working hard on it, he may very well achieve his lofty goals. Here’s hoping he does; someone has to fill the void that Ronaldo and Messi will eventually leave.
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