How 28 Football Legends Answered the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi Debate

Summary

• Cristiano Ronaldo is favored by legends like Pele for his consistency and all-around performance.
• Diego Maradona and Xavi believe Lionel Messi’s playmaking and impact make him the better player.
• Past and present football icons widely consider Messi superior with a final score of 21-7 in his favour.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are now in the latter stages of their illustrious careers. Whatever happens between now and the (very sad) days they retire, both superstars will be remembered as two of the greatest footballers – if not the two greatest footballers – to have ever played the game.

For years, the two were frequently meeting on Spain’s biggest stage – but now, their paths may never cross again. The talismanic Ronaldo departed Manchester United for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr, while Messi left Paris Saint-Germain for Inter Miami. The days of the pair strutting their stuff on our televisions are long gone.

Only the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff and Alfredo Di Stefano rival the duo for GOAT status. But how are the pair rated in the eyes of their fellow footballing legends? We’ve scanned through the archives and recorded the views of 28 icons of the past and present (both players and managers) on the age-old debate: Ronaldo vs Messi.

Pele

Choice: Cristiano Ronaldo

Still the best footballer of all time in the eyes of many, we’re pretty certain that three-time World Cup winner Pele has changed his mind on this issue on numerous occasions. That said, he isn’t the first person to do so – and he certainly won’t be the last. Back in 2020, the Brazilian hero said that the Portuguese was a level above his Argentinian counterpart thanks to his consistency.

“Today the best player in the world is Cristiano Ronaldo. I think he’s the best, because he’s more consistent, but you can’t forget about [Lionel] Messi, of course, but he’s not a striker.”

Diego Maradona

Choice: Lionel Messi

Diego Maradona, who tragically passed away in November 2020 at the age of 60, was a fan of both stars – although it’s no real surprise that his compatriot, Messi, edged it for him. Speaking to reporters in 2017, the La Albiceleste legend stated that his compatriot seldom had an off day.

“I can’t remember having seen Lionel Messi play badly. I prefer Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, but I acknowledge that the latter is an animal. Football history will remember Messi. Football has given him a lot, as much as he has given the sport and to win a World Cup, in my opinion, wouldn’t bring himself anything else.”

Paul Scholes

Choice: Lionel Messi

Paul Scholes played alongside Ronaldo for six seasons at Manchester United but will never forget the occasions he came up against Messi. Hailing his former teammate as ‘sensational’ at what he does best, the 66-cap England international, one of his nation’s best ever players, opted for the dainty magician.

“Messi [is the best] but Ronaldo is brilliant. Ronaldo is sensational at what he does, with pace and power. He scores, he takes free-kicks. But as an all-round footballer, Messi – wow, his passing – he has absolutely everything.”

Writing for the Independent in 2015, Scholes also added: “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.”

David Beckham

Choice: Lionel Messi

Ronaldo may have inherited David Beckham’s famous No. 7 shirt at Manchester United back in 2003, but his predecessor said 10 years later that he marginally prefers Messi. In the Argentine’s latter years, he has joined Beckham’s Inter Miami, perhaps as a nod to his previous comments.

“They have similarities in their technical skills and talent, and it is amazing for football to have them both present, but Messi is simply the best player in the world. He [Messi] is alone in his class as a player, it is impossible that there is another like him. He, like Cristiano Ronaldo, who is not at his level, are both above the rest.”

Roberto Carlos

Choice: Cristiano Ronaldo

As an ex-Real Madrid star, it’s not a shock that legendary left-back Roberto Carlos picked Ronaldo over Messi. Interestingly, the pair never graced the turf at the same time, with Carlos’ compatriot Marcelo often seen linking up with CR7 for Los Blancos. But their lack of time together on the pitch did not stop him from making a firm decision, giving his dedication to the sport the plaudits it deserves.

“I watch him [Cristiano] train every day and the way he works is exciting. “He wants to improve every day. That’s the difference with Messi. Leo is a phenomenon, but that side of Cristiano, of training, professionalism, focus, motivation, success… Cristiano has an advantage over all the others.”

Sir Alex Ferguson

Choice: Cristiano Ronaldo

You know where this is going. Sir Alex Ferguson has been Ronaldo’s father figure throughout his football career. The legendary former Manchester United boss, who is widely considered to be the greatest manager of all time, believes Cristiano had the edge over Messi because he could perform for any team in the world – Stockport County included.

“Now don’t get me wrong, Messi is a fantastic player, it’s like he’s wearing slippers when he controls the ball. But here, for me, is the difference. Messi is a Barcelona player. Ronaldo could play for Stockport County and score a hat-trick. He just wanted to be the best in the world.”

Marco van Basten

Choice: Lionel Messi

One of the finest Dutch footballers of all time, former striker Marco van Basten said people who choose Ronaldo over Messi “know nothing about football”. Try saying that to Sir Alex, Marco! Back in 2020, the AC Milan legend described Messi as ‘one of a kind’, all while suggesting a player of his calibre comes along every century or so.

“Cristiano is a great player, but those who say he is better than Messi know nothing about football, or they are saying it in bad faith. Messi is one of a kind. Impossible to imitate and impossible to repeat. A player like him comes along every 50 or 100 years.”

Thierry Henry

Choice: Lionel Messi

Thierry Henry is arguably the best player in Premier League history, but even he was shocked by just how good Messi was after leaving Arsenal for Barcelona.

“I played alongside Leo, so there’s my answer. I have an enormous amount of respect for Cristiano, as someone who maintains such a high level for several years. It’s one thing to have a good season, and then have another four years later but to keep up with that level for consecutive years is something else.

“People realise it, of course, but I feel like we still don’t grasp the real measure of what these two are doing. In the future, people will look back in awe at the continuity, the goals and the pressure that comes along with doing this for so long. So I’m full of respect for Ronaldo, but I played with Leo and had extraordinary moments with him, we lost and won together, so that is all I have to say on Leo.”

Zinedine Zidane

Choice: Cristiano Ronaldo

Zinedine Zidane is simply Real Madrid through and through. The fact that Ronaldo helped him to win multiple titles as the club’s head coach, there was never any danger of the Frenchman siding with Messi in truth. The two failed to play alongside each other as their Santiago Bernabeu stints did not overlap – but they did play against each other and the mutual respect is, evidently, through the roof.

“Cristiano is the best. Messi is his rival and it’s the rivalry everyone wants to see. But Ronaldo is phenomenal. There are no words to describe him. He is much better than me even though I had a great career. He’s the greatest of all time.”

Johan Cruyff

Choice: Lionel Messi

The man who possessed arguably the greatest football brain in history and the pioneer behind Total Football, the late Johan Cruyff couldn’t understand why some people believed Messi was inferior to any other player. The Dutchman said before he passed away:

“Messi is much more a team player than Cristiano is. He scores but also produces many assists. For me as a player, Messi is better. There is a big difference in being just a great goalscorer and being the best player.

“Every person that understands football knows this. It’s absolutely ridiculous to me that some people actually think Messi isn’t the best. This isn’t about Cristiano at all. He’s a fantastic player, one of the best goalscorers ever. This is about how ridiculously good Messi is.”