Boxing Champion Usyk Slams Lionel Messi, Names Greatest Argentinian Footballer in His Book

Unified Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk has a keen interest not only in sweet science, but also in incredible games of soccer and football. The Ukrainian boxer has long been an avid fan of the sport, which is not surprising as his country has a great football culture.

In addition, the country has produced world-class players such as Andriy Shevchenko and Oleg Blokhin. Nevertheless, Usyk’s favorite footballer is not his compatriot, but an Argentine legend.

Oleksandr Usyk reveals his favorite footballer

In a recent interview, ‘The Cat’ revealed their favorite player. He first said Shevchenko was his favorite Ukrainian player. He even went so far as to praise British legend Wayne Rooney as his favorite British player. However, he claimed that Argentine football legend Gabriel Batistuta was his favorite player.

“My favorite Ukrainian is Andriy Shevchenko. As a child, I loved Gabriel Batistuta. Among English players, I admired Wayne Rooney. My final answer is Batistuta.” He said.

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Batistuta is considered a legend in the sport and most of his achievements come from his country. He is Argentina’s second highest scorer at the World Cup, behind Lionel Messi. He is also the only person to have scored his two hat-tricks in two different World Cups. Today’s generation may not know his feat, but he was certainly a world-class player in his time.

When Wooshik made his soccer debut

In 2022, Usyk took a break in preparation for his rematch with Anthony Joshua, but he dabbled in the world of football a bit. Moreover, he made his professional debut during this time. ‘The Cat’ came on as a substitute for his FC Policia on his side in the Second Division in a friendly match.

He entered the match in the 76th minute and his side took a 2-1 lead over UPL Vélez in the Winter Cup. Usyk was reported to have been training under the club during winter training camp. Usyk will definitely benefit from this experience. He would beat AJ again and 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 of Usyk’s choice? Let us know in the comments.

Watch this story: Oleksandr Usyk’s amateur achievements