Football fans are at it again, they would stop at nothing to defend and promote their favourite clubs and players on social media whenever they have an opportunity to do so.

If there is one unique thing about football fans on social media, it is how they are known to spit into the air and receive the spittle with their face whenever they perceive anyone trying to downgrade the achievements and prowess of their favourite players and clubs.

The fans are presently engaged in a heated debate over who was a better midfielder between Real Madrid’s manager Zinedine Zidane and manager of Q-League football club Al Sadd, Xavier Hernández.

Both men were exceptional midfielders during the time they played in Spanish La Liga. While Zidane played for Real Madrid, Xavi played for Barcelona and both men won laurels for their clubs.

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Zidane, 47, is widely adjudged as one of the best players of all time and his transition from football player to manager further bears testament to his greatness.

The French man has been described by many as an elite playmaker, renowned for his elegance, ball control and technique. He played as an attacking midfielder for Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid where he retired as a professional player in 2006 at the age of 36.

As a football player, Zidane won many laurels including the FIFA Player of the Year award in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and also won the Ballon d’Or in 1998, among many other awards.

He won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, La Liga and Serie A league titles with Juventus and Real Madrid respectively.

After retiring as a player, he transited into coaching and in his two and a half seasons as Real Madrid manager, Zidane won the UEFA Champions League three times consecutively, a La Liga title, a Supercopa de España, the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup twice each. He was also named Best FIFA Men’s Coach in 2017.

Xavi, on the other hand, started his football career at age 11 with Barcelona in 1991 and almost ended it there before moving to Al Sadd in Qatar in 2015 where he would later retire as a professional football player.

The 39-year-old Spaniard who is also considered as one of the greatest midfielders of all time has been described by football lovers as the embodiment of the tiki-taka passing style of play.

Though he never won the much coveted FIFA Player of the Year Award, Xavi came third in the 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year, followed by third place for its successor award, the FIFA Ballon d’Or, in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, he was runner up to Lionel Messi for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

He also won eight La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles in his 17 years at Barcelona.

Xavi won his first trophy with Al Sadd, the Qatar Cup in April 2017 and is currently the manager of the club after retiring from professional football in May 2019.

Putting their individual, club and national achievements side-by-side, football fans are divided over who best fits to be described as a better midfielder between the duo.

Some fans are of the opinion that Zidane’s achievements and conquest as a midfielder for France national team and Real Madrid are unmatched for Xavi, while others opined that with Xavi’s achievement for Spain and Barcelona, he was a better player.

 

See some of the reactions:

 

This Zidane vs Iniesta vs Xavi argument is the most outrageous I’ve seen on this app yet. Most of those arguing for the Barca players are probably people who started watching football in 2009 ??‍♀️??‍♀️

— Peggy Meredith (@PeggyMeredith_k) July 1, 2019

Zidane at 34 man was technically Neat, made soccer easy, in all enjoyed himself as well.pic.twitter.com/b1XhsMER5I

— HIGH CHIEF?? (@VikktorNelson) July 2, 2019

Zidane was not even better than kaka, not to talk about the midfield mystreo Xavi

— en (@_en_ehron) July 2, 2019

Xavi, Iniesta? Are you out of your mind or just plain stupid.. You dont have enough with both to make 1 Zidane… pic.twitter.com/kA5wufQx3p

— Armando (@Armando74622494) July 2, 2019

Sir Alex Ferguson “Give me Zidane and 10 pieces of wood, and I will win you the champions league”….
In case you never heard of that quote…
Don’t compare Iniesta and xavi with zidane…

— Mubarak Sulaimon (@iam_Mubarak7) July 2, 2019

??? how old are you? Address me properly young man, you don’t reply your elders with ffs. Know your place please.

NB: Your Xabi is not even the best Xabi there’s, how ridiculous

— Peggy Meredith (@PeggyMeredith_k) July 1, 2019

No, Xavi wouldn’t even get that privilege. Everytime both men met on the pitch it was evident that Zizou was the boss. Xavi and his countrymen/barca teammates were always starstruck and in awe of Zidane’s brilliance. I bet Xavi would be laughing at your folly right now

— BABS (@scorp216) July 2, 2019

All these people are either too young are just idol worshippers…
Alex Fergusons was quoted saying:
“Give me Zidane and 10 pieces of wood and i will win you the Champions League” Zidane defined an era that experienced the golden age of midfielders… Has 3 Balon D’or awards?

— Olami Joseph Esq. (Your Legal ?) (@babamstic) July 2, 2019

Most Barcelona fans think football started in “2006”
Wow, some people think Xavi and iniesta are better than Zinedine Zidane. smh

I won’t even try to explain, they obviously start watching football in 2007.

— IjobaPoly (@sodiq_ololade) July 2, 2019

Imagine thinking Iniesta or Xavi is better than this guy. lmao the absolute disrespect! https://t.co/lnXdck85EC

— Lore (@Abolore__) July 2, 2019

Bro ,xavi and iniesta are both good players which any team will love to have but you cant compare them with Zidane, he might not have 10 leagues or 4 champions leagues tiles but believe me , he’s far better , 3 world best and 3 ballondor , no b beans..

— OH (@iamcgg) July 2, 2019