Everyone has their own opinion when it comes to the debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. This debate has now been raging for almost 15 years. The two superstars have both been incredible during that time and, in truth, there has been little to separate them.
Ronaldo and Messi will be remembered as two of the finest players in modern football. But how do other football legends rate the two superstars? Daily Mail has published a list of great players and managers who have chosen between Ronaldo and Messi, along with their quotes. The final result is quite revealing: La Pulga wins hands down.
Let’s take a look at the 19 legends who have decided between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Pelé : Ronaldo
King Pele has definitely changed his mind on more than one occasion, but we’ll go with his most recent comments.
Today, the best player in the world is Cristiano Ronald,” said the football icon recently. I think he’s the best, because he’s more consistent, but you can’t forget [Lionel] Messi, of course, but he’s not a striker.”
Diego Maradona : Messi
Maradona is a big fan of Ronaldo, but his loyalty lies with his compatriot.
I don’t remember Messi playing badly,” he said. I prefer Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, but I recognise that Ronaldo is an animal. The history of football will remember Messi. Football has given him a lot.
Paul Scholes : Messi
Scholes played alongside Ronaldo for six years at Man United, but admits Messi is a better all-round footballer than his former teammate.
“Messi [is the best] but Ronaldo is brilliant,” said the retired midfielder. Ronaldo is sensational in what he does, with pace and power. He scores, he takes free-kicks. But as a versatile footballer, Messi, wow, he has absolutely everything.”
David Beckham : Messi
Beckham has previously said that Messi is on a different level.
“They have similarities in their technical skills and talent, and it’s incredible for football to have them both, but Messi is simply the best player in the world,” he said. He [Messi] is alone in his class as a player, it’s impossible for there to be another like him. Both he and Cristiano Ronaldo, who is not at his level, are head and shoulders above the rest.
Roberto Carlos : Ronaldo
Roberto Carlos is both Brazilian and from Madrid. So it’s only natural that he considers Ronaldo the better player.
I watch him [Cristiano] train every day and the way he works is exciting,” said the legendary left-back. He wants to improve every day. That’s the difference with Messi. Leo is a phenomenon, but this side of Cristiano, the training, the professionalism, the concentration, the motivation, the success … Cristiano has an advantage over everyone else.”
Sir Alex Ferguson : Ronaldo
Everyone knows how much Fergie and Ronaldo love each other. The legendary former Manchester United manager believes Ronaldo could play in any team in the world. He is not as convinced that Messi could do the same.
“Now don’t get me wrong, Messi is a fantastic player, it’s like he’s wearing slippers when he controls the ball,” said Ferguson. But here, for me, that’s the difference. Messi is a Barcelona player. But Ronaldo could play for Stockport County and score a hat-trick. He just wanted to be the best in the world.”
Marco van Basten : Messi
Marco van Basten, one of the most talented strikers of all time, firmly believes that Messi is a unique talent.
Cristiano is a great player, but those who say he’s better than Messi don’t know anything about football, or they say it in bad faith,” commented the Dutchman. Messi is one of a kind. Impossible to imitate and impossible to repeat. A player like him comes along every 50 or 100 years.
Zinedine Zidane : Ronaldo
Ronaldo helped Zidane win three consecutive Champions League titles at Real Madrid. It’s no surprise that he opted for the Portuguese star over Messi.
“Cristiano is the best. Messi is his rival and that’s the rivalry everyone wants to see,” said the Frenchman. But Ronaldo is phenomenal. There are no words to describe him. He’s much better than me, even though I’ve had a great career. He’s the greatest of all time.
Kylian Mbappe : Ronaldo
Ronaldo was one of Mbappe’s idols. The Frenchman admits that he often changes his mind when it comes to the Ronaldo v Messi debate – like many of us!
“From one year to the next, my choice changes between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, although I have to admit that I choose Ronaldo more often. I loved him when I was younger.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic : Messi
Zlatan believed he was the greatest player in the world until he started playing and training with Messi at Barcelona.
“I think Messi is one of a kind,” said the Swede. What he does, I don’t know if we’ll ever see another player do what he does. It’s different [with Ronaldo] because he’s the result of hard training. It’s not natural. “
Fabio Capello : Messi
Capello saw Messi shine against Juventus in a friendly match when the Argentinian was just 16. The Italian immediately tried unsuccessfully to sign the teenager.
Ronaldo is an extraordinary footballer, but Messi is a genius,” said the veteran coach. There are three geniuses in football: Pele, Maradona and Messi. Ronaldo is very strong because he helps you win everything, but Messi is a genius and the best player.”
Ronaldinho : Messi
Ronaldinho spoke about Messi for the first time in 2005. Nobody believed he was telling the truth. Everyone thought he was too modest.
“Messi! I would have loved to continue playing alongside him. I didn’t have enough time with him, he was very young. I’d love to take the field with him again. He’s undoubtedly the best ever. Nobody has done what Messi has done. The other one [Ronaldo] is complete, he has everything. Messi too, but it’s a matter of taste and I prefer Messi’s style.”
Diego Simeone : Messi
Messi and Ronaldo have enjoyed plenty of success against Simeone’s Atletico Madrid over the years. The Argentinian coach admits he would sign Ronaldo over Messi in a normal team, but still believes the latter is the better footballer.
If I had to choose between Messi and Ronaldo, I’d probably choose Messi,” he said. If you’re lucky enough to sign one of them for a normal club, with normal players, Ronaldo would probably fit in better. But with Messi, surrounded by great players, Messi is better than Ronaldo.”
Ronaldo Nazario : Messi
Ronaldo, who has played for Barcelona and Real Madrid during his illustrious career, believes that Messi is the most complete player.
“He (Messi) is out of this world. So is Cristiano, but I see Leo as more complete. He’s great. I love him much more than any other player. Everything he does is spectacular.”
Jurgen Klopp : Messi
This quote from Klopp says it all… “I only have one selfie on my smartphone,” he declared. It’s with Messi. Cristiano was also in the room…”
Wayne Rooney : Messi
Although Rooney formed an incredible duo with Ronaldo during their time at Man Utd, the former England captain has said on several occasions that he thinks Messi is the greatest footballer of all time.
“Messi. I think I’ve said this before, but they’re probably the two greatest players to ever play.I just think Messi is, in my eyes, the greatest of all time.”
Steven Gerrard : Messi
Gerrard recently stated that he prefers team players to individuals, hence why he would choose Messi over Ronaldo.
“There are certain players who are on a different level to anyone else, Messi and Ronaldo,” he said. But Ronaldo is not in my team. What are we going to achieve together? Ronaldo is going to win you things, but I’m more of a team player than an individual player, so I’m always going to follow that path.”
Angel Di Maria : Messi
Di Maria, who had the honour of playing with both superstars, believes that Messi is on another planet.
“It was a dream to have the opportunity to play with [Wayne] Rooney, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, Cristiano [Ronaldo], Leo [Messi] … they were players I used to play on PlayStation and I never imagined I would be able to play with them. I used to watch them and then to have the opportunity to play with them was really nice. Leo is the best of the four.”
Iker Casillas : Ronaldo
And Casillas, one of the best goalkeepers of all time, sided with his former Real Madrid team-mate.
“I’d choose Cristiano over Messi because he’s a player who gives us so much every season and he’s a player I spend time with every day.”
Final score: Ronaldo 6-13 to Lionel Messi.
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