Ronaldo Teammates Say Messi is Better

Football GOAT: Former Ronaldo Teammates Say Messi is Better

Debates spice up football, especially debates on the superiority of a footballer or a team over another. There is always this unending debate about who the Football GOAT is. This argument is usually between Ronaldo & Messi. The exciting thing is that some of Ronaldo’s former teammates say Messi is better (or the real Soccer GOAT).

In times past, the two legends of the game who used to be at the centre of this discussion were the Brazilian Pele and the late Maradona. In recent times, Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have taken that space or added it to the list.

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The never-ending debate of who is the better player between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has lasted for over a decade. The performances of both football stars make it difficult for some to decide who the Football GOAT is.

Hence, they remain undecided. But some footballers believe that Messi is the better player, and others think Cristiano Ronaldo is better.

Most times, the opinion of some past and present footballers on who the Soccer GOAT is is influenced by their loyalty towards the player, either as teammates at the club level or with the national team.

However, what happens when an ex-teammate decides to “pitch his tent” in the camp of the other player? Does it settle the debate?

Before moving on, it is essential to define what GOAT means regarding Football or Soccer. GOAT is an acronym that represents the Greatest Footballer of All Time.

Now, concerning the Football or Soccer GOAT, five (5) notable former Teammates of Ronaldo say Messi is better or the Greatest of All Time. Let’s consider these five players.

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5 Ronaldo’s Former Teammates Say Messi is (The Football GOAT) Better

Wayne Rooney

Rooney, Manchester United’s greatest goal scorer and England’s record goalscorer, played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for several years at Manchester United. The Englishman is one of those who think Messi is the better player or the Football GOAT.

In an interview he granted to talkSPORT, Rooney said:

“That debate, Messi vs. Ronaldo… Messi just has everything; he can make goals, score goals, dictate games… He is one of the only players where I’ve just sat there and watched and been in awe.

Obviously, I played with Cristiano, and the two of them have set the standard which I don’t think will ever be seen again, But, for me, Messi is just on a different level.”

Ronaldo teammate, Rooney says Messi is the Goat

In one of his recent appearances on the “Pardon My Take podcast” reported by goal.com, when he was asked why he prefers Messi to Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney said:

“I think I’ve said this before, but they’re both probably the best two players to ever play the game.
“I just think Messi is, in my eyes, the greatest ever.”

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Angel Di Maria

Ronaldo’s Teammates Say Messi is Better, and Di Maria is another example.

Angel Di Maria played alongside Ronaldo between 2010 and 2014 at Real Madrid. He won several trophies, including the Uefa Champions League, the Spanish League, and the Copa del Rey with the Portuguese superstar.

Di Maria is also Messi’s teammate with the Argentine National team, where they lost the World Cup and Copa America finals.

However, when choosing the better player, Di Maria thinks Messi is superior or the Football GOAT. He told TyC sports:

“It was a dream to have the possibility to play with Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Cristiano, Leo … they were players that I used on the PlayStation and I would never have imagined I’d get to play with them,”

With all the great players I have played with, it’s hard to choose. But if I had to pick one, it would be Leo. Leo is the best of the four”

Paul Scholes

Ronaldo's Teammate, Rooney Scholes say Messi is the GOAT

Scholes is another Manchester United legend who played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. He won the Uefa Champions League and multiple league titles at Manchester United with Ronaldo.

The former English Midfielder scored the only goal of the tie between Manchester United and Messi’s Barcelona in the 2007/08 Uefa Champions League semi-final. They eventually lifted the trophy anyway.

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However, Scholes gave his verdict on the Messi and Ronaldo debate via his column on The Independent. He said:

“I think about the great players with whom I have shared a pitch: Eric Cantona, Zinedine Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo – and the greatest of them all is Messi.”

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Iker Casillas

Casillas’s name is always mentioned amongst the greatest goalkeeper of his generation. The Real Madrid Legend was a mainstay in the most successful period of the Spanish national team.

At Real Madrid, his legendary status cannot be disputed. Several individual awards and team trophies proved his importance for almost two decades of his stay there.

Casillas featured alongside Cristiano Ronaldo between 2009 and 2015. But somehow, he believes Messi is the Football GOAT instead of Ronaldo

Real Madrid won the Uefa Champions League, the Spanish League, and other major trophies. Cristiano Ronaldo also won multiple individual awards, including the Ballon d’Or.

However, the truth surfaced following Leo Messi’s heroics against Atletico Madrid in the La Liga Match on the 1st of December 2019.

Messi scored an 86th-minute curler in that match to give Barcelona a 1-0 win away from home.

Casillas’ tweet hinted that he believes Messi is the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time).

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“Formula for football: goalkeeper ???? (top) & player ???? (GOAT). Today Barca took the three points at Wanda Metropolitano. Atletico has played well but lacked composure in front of the goal. Blaugrana remains top of the league. Atletico have to fight for the Champions League zone,”

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Dimitar Berbatov

Berbatov was a teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United in the 2008/09 season. The pair won the English Premier League title and Fifa Club World Cup but lost the Champions League final of 2009 to a Leo Messi-inspired Barcelona team.

In an interview he granted to ESPNFC, Berbatov said:

“He’s the f***ing greatest. Ronaldo is brilliant, Messi is more my kind of player,” “He sees the game so clearly. He can score, create, he’s the complete player, the best ever probably.”

In essence, Berbatov believes Messi is the Football GOAT.

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Who is the Football GOAT – Messi or Ronaldo?

What do the opinions of these former Ronaldo teammates do to the debate of who the Football GOAT is? Does it not subtly settle the debate?

If Ronaldo’s former teammates say Messi is better, does it mean Messi is the real Soccer GOAT and not Ronaldo?

Share your thoughts in the comment box.

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