Rafael van der Vaart thinks Erling Braut Haaland is the best football player of the 2021 calendar year internationally. Two years after his move to the Bundesliga, Haaland’s counter stands at no fewer than 76 goals in 75 official matches.
“This man is almost impossible to defend. I saw him live again in Oslo against the the Dutch and then you see that he comes in front of the goal four times in a mediocre team,” Van der Vaart points out in his column. The Telegraph at the World Cup qualifier. “Technically I don’t even think he’s very special, but he has so much power and is so fast. As a result, he has scored a mountain of goals.”
Van der Vaart found Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ‘not special’ this year and has more appreciation for Karim Benzema. Also because the Dutchman himself knows better than anyone that Real Madrid is not an easy club. “Real Madrid is a graveyard for many players, you don’t last very long. Benzema is going through an incredible period. He has been with Real for so long and just keeps playing and performing. He’s even captain now.”
“Ronaldo can still perform, but he’s at the wrong club. Manchester United played football in 2021 which was not too good, often not to look at,” continues Van der Vaart. “They have so many good players, but they can’t get it right. Ronaldo has often dragged them through the Champions League with those late goals. But his goals have obscured a lot at Manchester United.”
“United is not only the wrong club for Ronaldo, it is also for Donny van de Beek,” Van der Vaart finally emphasizes. “He has to get out of there as soon as possible. He spends too much time on the bench, but he didn’t play well even when he was drafted.”