Vladimir Putin snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for his top three footballers

dailystar.co.uk:

Vladimir Putin has remarkably snubbed both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi from his selection for the world's top three footballers.Despite winning a combined 12 Ballon d'Or awards between themselves, the outspoken President of Russia, 69, failed to select either the Manchester United ace or the PSG hero in his choice of the planet's most decorated players.Instead, Putin opted for Pele and Diego Maradona as his answers for the top two spots with the duo dominating the footballing scene throughout the 1960s and 1980s respectively.

And of course, there had to be the inclusion of Russia's most highly esteemed shot-stopper with Lev Yashin rounding off his selections.Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, the Argentinian World Cup champion and the nine-time European Goalkeeper of the Year are undoubtedly solid choices from Putin but the absence of Messi or Ronaldo is striking.Both have glistened during the modern era, sparking the G.O.A.T debate due to their goalscoring pedigree.Messi is a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner whilst also racking up the most goals and assists ever in La Liga.Whereas Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or on five occasions and is the greatest goal scorer in international and Champions League history.But it seems neither are good enough to make Putin's hit-list.HAVE YOUR SAY!

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