San Diego FC’s Hirving Lozano recently shared his vision of the perfect footballer in an interview with Goal, selecting attributes from some of the greatest players. Lozano evaluated seven categories—left foot, right foot, speed, strength, skills, passing, and soccer IQ—to build his ultimate player. He chose Lionel Messi’s left foot and Cristiano Ronaldo’s right foot but surprisingly picked neither for their soccer intelligence, opting instead for Zinedine Zidane’s expertise in that area.
Lozano also credited Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele for speed, Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool for strength, and the legendary Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo for passing. Messi was again selected in the skills category, reinforcing Lozano’s admiration for his abilities on the ball.
Recent Career Highlights of Lozano and His Chosen Players
Hirving Lozano, who has won Serie A with Napoli and two Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven, transferred to Major League Soccer in January 2025. The Mexican international has earned 70 caps and scored 18 goals for his country. His wide experience across European and North American leagues adds weight to his choices for the perfect footballer.
In parallel, Lionel Messi continues to impress in the MLS, tallying 24 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions during the 2025 season. He leads the league’s scoring chart with 18 goals, tied with Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge. Messi’s team, Inter Miami, is preparing for the Leagues Cup, starting with a match against Atlas on July 30. After winning the tournament in 2023, they hope to claim the trophy again this year.
Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he has demonstrated prolific scoring. During the 2024-25 season, he netted 35 goals in 41 games, adding four assists. His previous season saw even more remarkable stats, with 50 goals and 13 assists in 51 appearances, including the Arab Club Champions Cup.
Ongoing Challenges and Commitment of Top Footballers
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive goal-scoring, he has yet to secure a Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr. Speculation about his future arose earlier this summer; however, he reaffirmed his commitment by extending his contract until 2027. This decision ensures his continued presence in the Saudi league amid growing interest from other clubs.
As for Lozano’s perspective, his selections reflect a thoughtful balance of technical skill, physical ability, and mental acuity derived from some of football’s most respected figures. By rejecting Messi and Ronaldo for soccer IQ in favor of Zidane, Lozano highlights the value he places on strategic intelligence in the game’s highest roles.