Could Have Earned More Than Messi, Ronaldo If Social Media Existed When I Played: Christian Vieri

It is pertinent to note that Christian Vieri, former Italy International, hung up his footballing boots in 2008-09.

Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Lionel Messi are widely regarded as among the greatest footballers ever to have played the game.

Source : Getty Images

In a massive claim, former Italy International Christian Vieri has said that he would have easily earned more than football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had he played during the present time. He reckoned that he would have made around €300-400 million a season if social media existed when he was playing. While Ronaldo and Messi are widely considered as among the greatets footballers of all time, Vieri was also a fine striker during his time as his record of 236 goals suggests.

In a recent interview with OJogo, the 49-year-old said made this huge statement saying that he would have earned more than what Messi and Ronaldo earn only if the opportunities of income from Instagram, Facebook or Twitter etc. exisited when he was still an active player.

"If there were social networks when I played, I would earn more than Messi and Ronaldo. I'm nice. I'm one of the nicest, if not the nicest people in Europe. I would make 300 or 400 million a year," he said.

It is pertinent to note that Vieri hung up his footballing boots in 2008-09. This was a time when Facebook had not been the giant that it is now while Twitter had just started to grow. Instgram had not even launched. Vieri expressed his regret on not having these platforms to help him in his career.

While Messi is set to leave PSG at the end of this season, as has been claimed in several media reports, there are also reports which suggest that he has been offered a lucrative deal to join Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal. If these reports hold any element of truth and the transfer materialises, it will mean Messi and his long-time rival Ronaldo will reunion in Saudi Pro League with Ronaldo currently playing for Al-Nassr.

The two were at the centre of a celebrated FC Barcelona and Real Madrid rivarly in La Liga with Messi playing for the former and Ronaldo representing the latter. Ronaldo then shifted base to Juventus before Messi moved to the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).