Odada relishes clash against Messi in MLS
By Vincent Voiyoh, June 19, 2023Kenya’s combative midfielder Richard Odada who plays for Philadelphia Union in the Major League Soccer (MLS) is really looking forward to sharing a pitch with Argentine World Cup winner Lionel Messi who is set to complete a move to Inter Miami in the USA this summer.
In an exclusive interview with People Daily Sport, Odada, 22, termed Messi as the greatest footballer on the planet but noted that he does not fear facing him at all.
“Of course he (Messi) is the best player in the World. It will be nice to share a field of play with him. That will be unbelievable and I am looking forward to it,it will be really good if I get that chance,” a jovial Odada noted.
Odada has already settled in the MLS with Philadelphia where he is set to kick-start his career after his three-year unsuccessful stint with Serbia’s football giants Red Star Belgrade.
With all set for Messi’s announcement as an Inter Miami player in Florida, he could face the Harambee Stars defensive midfielder in the Eastern Conference.
“Yes, I am excited but football can be different depending on how you view it. He is the greatest player but usually after the 90 minutes we are all the same. He has got two legs just like me and therefore nothing to worry about,” Odada added.
The former AFC Leopards ace who has amassed six caps for Harambee Stars could become the only third Kenya ever to face the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner after the Wanyama brothers.
Enroute to becoming the first East African to clinch UEFA Champions League, Kenya’s McDonald Mariga faced Messi in the second leg of a semi final of the competition while featuring for Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. Mariga came in as a substitute in the 86th minute replacing the now Cameroon Football Association president Samuel Etoo. Inter lost the game 1-0 but progressed to the final with a 4-2 aggregate win.
Two years later his young brother Victor Wanyama faced Messi while on duty in Scotland for Celtic, this time in a Champions League Group stage match at Celtic Park. Wanyama scored with a powerful header to give his side a shocking lead in the 21st minute. Despite Messi scoring late in the game, Wanyama’s Celtic emerged the winners with a surprising 2-1 victory against a star studded Barcelona side.
Wanyama battled with Messi again while at Tottenham in October 2018 at a parked Wembley Stadium. This time Messi scored a brace that saw Barca thrash Spurs 4-2 away from home in the Champions League.