Former Real Madrid player, Rafael van der Vaart, has hailed former Manchester United forward, Memphis Depay, insisting that he is the ‘Lionel Messi’ of the Netherlands national team.
Van der Vaart said this while comparing Depay’s spot-kick situation with the Netherlands to that of Argentina captain Lionel Messi.
Recall that Depay failed to convert his spot-kick as France defeated the Netherlands 4-0 in their Euro 2024 qualifying tie on 24 March.
The Atletico Madrid star failed to score a consolation goal for the Netherlands in second-half stoppage time after his penalty was easily saved by Mike Maignan.
“Of course, he misses penalties, but it is sad there is no one else willing to take them. I think the same with Messi,” Van der Vaart, who played for the Netherlands from 2001 to 2013, told NOS via Mundo Deportivo.
“He is the best player of all time, but he also misses lots of penalties. He takes them every time, but no one says: ‘Let me take it.’”
“I don’t compare Memphis with Messi, but he is a bit like our Messi. It is true he had a bad game against France, but he is still our best player.”
