AFTV star Robbie Lyle hilariously tried to make a staunch case for Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka to make the FIFA 23 Team of the Year ahead of Lionel Messi.
FIFA 23 publisher EA Sports announced the final XI for Team of the Year earlier this month after 10m votes were cast by fans of the series.
Thibaut Courtois took his place between the sticks in front of a back four of Achraf Hakimi, Eder Militao, Virgil van Dijk and Theo Hernandez.
Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modric completed the midfield trio in the 4-3-3 formation for the Team of the Year XI.
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Messi, who is out on the right wing, is in the frontline alongside Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe and 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
Ahead of EA Sports’ reveal for Team of the Year, AFTV founder Robbie appeared on Sky Sports’ ‘Saturday Social’ segment to choose his final XI alongside Flav Bateman.
Robbie remained true to his Arsenal loyalty by arguing Saka, who has been in sensational form for the Gunners this season, should make the team ahead of Messi.
The AFTV chief went on to suggest that Messi is “not a right winger,” despite the 35-year-old Argentine forward playing in that position for both club and country.
“Saka, because Messi’s not a right winger. Messi’s not a right winger, really and truly,” Robbie said.
He continued: “How I was trying to do it was positionally, right? So, I’ve never seen Messi… have you ever seen Messi playing on the right wing? […] He plays more sort of… as a matter of fact, he plays more as a midfielder.
“Messi does not play as a right winger, so let’s take [Federico] Valverde out and put Messi in. I would put Messi in the midfield.
“I’d take [Kevin] De Bruyne out and put Messi in. It can still be 4-3-3, but I’m taking out De Bruyne.”
Despite Robbie’s desperate attempts to sneak Saka into the Team of the Year, PSG superstar Messi made the final cut alongside Mbappe and Benzema.
One fan said: “Arsenal’s success is getting to Robbie’s head. He’s genuinely turning into Ty.”
Another commented: “Have you ever seen Messi play right wing? Only about 14 out of 17 seasons he’s played.”
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“Robbie’s a true comedian, Saka over Messi? I’ve never laughed harder,” a third added.
While one fan wrote: “Robbie picking Saka over Messi is prime meme material, makes me shiver as an Arsenal fan.”
A fifth posted: “I love Robbie, but he doesn’t know ball.”
Topics: Bukayo Saka, Lionel Messi, FIFA 23, Gaming, Football
Adnan Riaz