SUMMARY
- Performing well later on in his career, Sneijder featured across massive clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan as well.
- Sneijder believes he could have been put in the same bracket as Messi and Ronaldo.
Wesley Sneijder was a prominent figure for his clubs throughout his career. Starting his career aged 18, Sneijder burst onto the scene with the Dutch side, Ajax. Performing well later on in his career, Sneijder featured across massive clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan as well.
Performing well and contributing trophies to his clubs, Sneijder recently spoke about how he could have been considered in similar brackets to the greats, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Speaking in his reports, Sneijder said, “I could have been as good as Messi or Ronaldo.”
He further expressed, “But I just didn’t feel much for it. I love life and drank a glass of wine here and there.” With his statements, he expressed that had he avoided the glass of wine he could have reached further on from his potential.
🗣 Wesley Sneijder: “I could have been as good as Messi or Ronaldo, but I just didn’t feel much for it. I love life and drank a glass of wine here and there.
Leo and Cristiano are different. They sacrificed so much. That’s fine. My career was still great.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/iH6449Q6Dh
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 12, 2024
On claiming how Lionel and Cristiano became such greats he said, “Leo and Cristiano are different. They sacrificed so much. That’s fine. My career was still great.” Having accomplished several honors throughout his career, Sneijder believes he had a fantastic career and he is happy with what he has done.
Being a quintuple winner with Inter Milan to achieving a domestic double with Ajax. Wesley Sneijder did himself proud and earned the status of being a legend of the game. Keeping his team honors ahead of individual honors also shows how unselfish he has been throughout his career.
When Wesley Sneijder proved he was the best in the world
The main highlight of Wesley Sneijder’s career arrived when he won the quintuple with Inter Milan. Having already won 2x domestic double with Ajax and winning La Liga with Real Madrid. Wesley Sneijder already knew how it was to win trophies with his clubs.
Moving to the San Siro in the summer of 2009. Sneijder entered a new challenge in his career. Signing to the club on August 27, 2009, Sneijder went on to make an immediate impact within the club. He went on to make his debut the very next day against their fierce rivals, AC Milan. A match which they ended up winning by a ruthless scoreline of 4-0.
Performing well throughout the season, Sneijder went on to make 41 appearances throughout the season. Being a prominent figure throughout he went on to score 8 goals and provided 15 assists as well. While stats may not seem to be great enough, Sneijder was the orchestrator for Inter Milan converting defence into attacks in a single move.
Having managed to win a treble across his first season, Sneijder reached the peak of his career. Continuing the season, the FIFA World Cup took place in South Africa. Entering the competition in such top form, Sneijder didn’t look back even once and followed his form through the World Cup as well.
Across the World Cup, Sneijder went on to score 5 goals and provide 1 assist in just 7 matches played. Even though, the Netherlands failed to win the competition after facing a tough 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final.
With the World Cup coming to an end, Sneijder was named in the dream team of the competition and fell short of the Golden Ball by just 2% to Uruguayan striker, Diego Forlan. Despite not winning the Ballon d’Or, Wesley Sneijder had a truly stellar year in 2010. Showcasing his talent and justifying his belief that he claimed to be the best in the world.