The contemporary landscape of football has been significantly shaped by the enduring rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom are now approaching the twilight of their illustrious careers. This rivalry has left fans and analysts divided, with no consensus reached regarding who holds the superior status. In contrast, Messi has maintained a neutral position throughout, refraining from engaging in the ongoing debate. Conversely, Ronaldo has been outspoken, frequently asserting his claim to being the greatest player of all time.

What did Cristiano Ronaldo say?

Ronaldo's latest remarks were made during a Spanish television program, where he stated, “I am referring to statistics. I believe I am the most complete player to have ever existed. In my view, that is indeed the case. I excel in all aspects of football: headers, free kicks, left foot. I possess speed and strength. Preferences vary—if one favors [Lionel] Messi, Pelé, or [Diego] Maradona, I acknowledge and respect that—but to claim that Ronaldo lacks completeness... I am the most complete. I have not encountered anyone superior to myself, and I assert this sincerely.”

The former Real Madrid star further commented, “Who holds the record for the best goal scorer in history? It is a matter of statistics. Period. Who is the player in history that has scored the most goals with their head, left foot, penalties, and free kicks? I was reviewing the records recently, and despite not being left-footed, I rank among the top 10 goal scorers with my left foot in history. The same applies to headers, right foot, and penalties. All of them.”

Angel di Maria's response to Cristiano Ronaldo

Angel di Maria, who has had the unique experience of being teammates with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, chose to address Ronaldo's recent statements. Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo played together at Real Madrid before Di Maria's transfer to Manchester United. Additionally, Di Maria has represented Argentina alongside Messi, achieving significant success, including winning the 2022 World Cup, where he contributed a goal in the final match.

In an interview with InfoBae, the Benfica player remarked, “I am not surprised; I spent four years with him [Ronaldo]. It was always like this. He consistently made such declarations, always striving to be the best. However, he was born into a generation that coincided with another player who was blessed with extraordinary talent [Messi].”

“The facts are evident in the statistics. One player has secured eight Ballon d'Or awards, while the other has five. The disparity is substantial. Being a world champion is another significant distinction, along with having won two Copa America titles. There are numerous differences. When you observe him during matches, you can see it in every moment; one plays as if he is in his backyard. He continues to score goals as he always has, and he has maintained this for 18 to 20 years.”

“How long has he been performing at this level? People often say, 'You already know what he will do,' yet they cannot stop him, and he will still be executing his style of play at 40 years old. That is simply how it is. Cristiano has always been like that, making similar statements consistently. For me, Leo [Messi] is undoubtedly the best player in the world and the greatest in history,” he concluded.

Ronaldo and Messi are recognized as two of the most accomplished players in the history of football, collectively amassing 77 official trophies (Messi with 44 and Ronaldo with 33) throughout their professional careers, and both have surpassed the 50-goal mark in a single season on multiple occasions.

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