Cristiano Ronaldo’s former team-mate Angel Di Maria has revealed who he is believed is the better player out of the Portuguese star and Lionel Messi.
Di Maria, 36, played with Ronaldo, 39, at Real Madrid for four years while also featuring alongside Messi, 37, as a member of the Argentina national team.
And he has now given a resounding verdict on who he thought was the superior player between two of the greatest footballers of the modern era.
In an interview with Argentine news outlet Infobae, Di Maria gave his opinion when asked what he thought of Ronaldo’s comments that the Portugal star was the best player of all time.
Di Maria said: ‘He always made these kind of remarks, he always tried to be the best, but he was unfortunately born in a generation where there was another player [Messi] who made everything he touched turn to gold’.
‘The reality is demonstrated in the numbers. One player won eight Balon d’Or awards [Messi] while the other won five [Messi].
Cristiano Ronaldo’s former team-mate Angel Di Maria has revealed who he is believed is the better player out of the Portuguese star and Lionel Messi
‘Another key difference is that one has lifted the World Cup. There are many, differences between the two players.
‘If one watches every minute of every match, [Messi] makes it look so easy, as if he were having a kickabout in his back garden’.
It comes in the wake of comments made earlier this month by Ronaldo in an interview with Spanish outlet El Chiringuito.
Ronaldo said: ‘I have a good relationship with Leo Messi. I was translating him in English at an award ceremony too!
‘It was funny. It was a healthy rivalry, we got along.’
He is Real Madrid’s all-time goalscorer with 450 goals, followed by club legends Karim Benzema and Raul.
Di Maria featured alongside Messi as a member of the Argentina national team
In an interview with Argentine news outlet Infobae, Di Maria gave his opinion when asked what he thought of Ronaldo’s comments that the Portugal star was the best player of all time
And when quizzed whether he considers himself the best footballer ever, Ronaldo said: ‘I think so, I honestly haven’t seen anyone better than me. You have to look at the numbers full stop.
‘I believe I am the most complete player who has ever existed. It’s me.
‘I do everything in football. I play well in terms of heading the ball, I’m good at free-kicks, I’m good with my left foot, I’m quick, I’m strong, I jump.
‘I am the best player ever, I believe that.’
