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A former Real Madrid teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo has thrown his weight behind one side of soccer’s most polarizing rivalry: Ronaldo vs. Messi. For over a decade, fans and pundits have sparred over who deserves the “GOAT” crown. Ronaldo’s supporters tout his record-shattering goalscoring feats, including the most international strikes and Champions League goals. Lionel Messi loyalists counter with his unmatched eight Ballon d’Or trophies, a World Cup win, and a near-flawless trophy cabinet. Now, adding fuel to the fire, an ex-Madrid icon—who also shared the pitch with Messi—has settled the debate with a brutally honest take.
An Insider’s take on Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi
The player in question? Angel Di Maria. The Argentine winger, rare for having shared locker rooms with both modern legends, didn’t mince words. When asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent claims of being football’s greatest, Di Maria smirked:
“I’m not surprised. I was with him [Ronaldo] for four years. It was always like that. He always made those statements, he always tried to be the best.” But for Di Maria, cold, hard stats—not bold proclamations—settle the argument.
“The reality is shown in numbers,” he stressed. “One has eight Ballons d’Or, the other five. There is a very big difference. Being a world champion is another very big difference, having two Copa Americas. There are many differences, many.” Di Maria, who won the 2022 World Cup alongside Messi, painted his compatriot as a once-in-history talent: “Another one was born who was touched by the magic wand [Messi].”
The ex-Madrid star didn’t dismiss Ronaldo’s brilliance but framed it as a relentless grind versus Lionel Messi’s effortless mastery.
“You see [Messi] in the games, in every minute… he plays as if he were in the backyard,” Di Maria marveled. “How long has he been doing the same thing? And everyone says, ‘but you already know what he’s going to do,’ well, go mark him and he’ll do it anyway.”
For Di Maria, longevity and adaptability cement Messi’s legacy. Even at 36, the Argentine captain “still does tiki-taka, tiki-taka”—a nod to his seamless evolution from wunderkind to veteran maestro. Ronaldo’s self-driven narrative, meanwhile, feels rehearsed:
“Cristiano is like that too. He always made statements that way. It was always the same.”
Di Maria’s loyalty lies not in past allegiances but in irrefutable evidence. To him, Lionel Messi’s blend of silverware, consistency, and artistry transcends Cristiano Ronaldo’s self-branded greatness. While Ronaldo’s hunger commands respect, Di Maria’s verdict is clear: the “magic wand” outshines the megaphone. As debates rage on, this insider’s perspective offers a rare bridge between two eras—and a stark reminder that numbers rarely lie.
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