Gerard Pique and Angel Di Maria agree on which of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is the best – both side with the Argentinian.
The great debate that has charmed fans, pundits, managers and professional players alike is whether the technically brilliant Messi or the bullishly impenetrable Ronaldo is the brightest light ever in the world of football. Many sides fight for both sides off the field, while for this pair of world-famous stars they have experienced how incredibly direct both are.
Di Maria played up front alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid, after also being led to World Cup glory by Messi. Pique, who was part of the same Manchester United team as the Portuguese star, won a trio of Champions League titles with Messi.
Although Pique, who played just 596 minutes with Ronaldo at Old Trafford, might be expected to favor his old colleague Messi, Di Maria, who spent the better part of four years at the Bernabeu with the now 39-year-old… old , has surprisingly chosen his compatriot.
“For me, Messi and Cristiano are the two best players in history,” Di Maria told Clank Media. “But it is clear that Leo cannot be compared to any other player.”
Di Maria's mind may have been quite influenced by the 2022 World Cup, where Messi's Argentina triumphed. The current Inter Miami player scored in every phase, becoming the first player ever to do so and was subsequently named player of the tournament.
Although Di Maria won the Champions League and the Spanish league title alongside Ronaldo, it seemed an obvious decision for the winger, just as it did for retired defender Pique.
“Messi has always been different from the others,” Pique admitted to AS. “Cristiano is the best person, but Leo is an alien. He doesn't belong on this planet.
“I saw him train every day and do incredible things. There will never be another player with his speed of thought and the same determination. He came at the age of 13 and played the same way, both in the youth team and in the first team.”
Messi and Pique teamed up for three Champions League titles and a whopping eight La Liga titles – a trio of which they were joined by current Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
“We had incredible talents, but the most special was the combination with Pep,” Pique added. “We came together, me as a player and him as a coach. There was Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Busquets, all homegrown.
“We always knew each other and everything was natural. At a tactical and strategic level he is a genius, he knows how to read matches, predict how they will end, he gives you the necessary tools to carry out counter-attacks and defenses. And when it comes to delivering the motivational message, he is unbeatable. He has kept his concentration high for years.”
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