Sterling Can Be The Best Player In The World – Gareth Southgate

England coach, Gareth Southgate has tipped Raheem Sterling to become the world’s best player someday.

Raheem has dazzled for club and country for years now. He helped Manchester City to another EPL title last season by scoring 17 league goals.

With Ronaldo and Messi now 34 and 32 respectively, their dominance of global football nearing its end and Gareth thinks Sterling has what it takes to attain such legendary status.

His words, “There are obviously some outstanding players around”

“But he will give himself every chance, because he’s got the drive, he’s got the professionalism, he’s got the ability, he’s strong, he’s physically and mentally strong for such a small statured lad.”

“For me, it’s lovely to see the shift in the public opinion of him,”

“That’s still a brave thing to decide that: ‘Right, I’m going to own that space and I’m going to put my own views across’. But those views represent many as well, so I think he’s aware of the power of his voice, but he also doesn’t waste it.

“I think he was very forthright in his social media posts [about racism]. I think he raised everybody’s awareness and made us all think, which was very mature and impressive. And, at the same time, he rose to the challenge with his club, with new signings coming in.

“You know, when you are at a club like that, to keep fighting off the quality of players that he has; and straight away with us, got the goals in Spain – first game after the World Cup for him, really. Croatia away, Spain. I think it was such a huge weight lifted for him, he almost jumped six foot in the stadium, didn’t he?

“So I think from that moment – because he did come home a bit sad after the World Cup, there’s no hiding from that. He didn’t deserve to feel that way, but that’s as he was, so it’s lovely to see the recognition he’s getting and how much extra I think that’s bringing out of him.”