'I played with Cristiano Ronaldo and against Lionel Messi - I know who best footballer is'
A former Real Madrid star has offered his thoughts on who the better player is between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Former Real Madrid star Marcelo has declared Lionel Messi is a better player than his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. The full-back experienced both of their prime years during their time in Spain.
The famed rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo truly began after the latter joined Los Blancos from Manchester United in 2009. The Portuguese forward fired Real Madrid to two La Liga titles and four Champions League triumphs, incredibly scoring 450 goals in 438 games for the Spanish giants.
Marcelo shared the pitch with Ronaldo on 333 occasions and also went up against the 41-year-old in training. The Brazil international had a different relationship with former Barcelona icon Messi, whom he faced 33 times, due to their many El Clasico meetings and international fixtures on opposing sides.
Both Ronaldo and Messi have won a litany of trophies, including a combined 13 Ballon d’Or awards, and continue to break records as they near the end of their illustrious careers. However, for Marcelo, the answer was simple when asked which of the two was tougher to play against.
"Messi. He was extraordinary. I'm still trying to catch him,” Marcelo joked on Romario TV while being interviewed by the legendary Brazilian striker.
“He understands all the positions on the field very well. When a teammate comes with the ball, he already knows where to go," he said.
Marcelo added: “He’s very impressive. Messi is very tough.”
Messi was the player Marcelo faced most often in his career, with the Argentina captain scoring 24 goals in their 33 meetings. They crossed paths throughout the 38-year-old’s time at Barcelona, where he scored 672 in 778 games for his boyhood club.
Ronaldo’s arrival at Real Madrid came in the wake of Messi inspiring Barcelona to a historic treble and their relentless individual brilliance led to constant comparisons. Despite his ties to Los Blancos, Marcelo insists that all fans should cherish having them both in the same era rather than endless debates over who is better.
"I think that young people, and those of us who played in their era, have to be grateful for that,” Marcelo continued. “Because I was able to experience both of their eras.
"We have to be grateful that we were able to live through those times. I think it’s important to say that because many people say, ‘Oh, but Cristiano…’, ‘But Messi…’. No: we saw them, we’re seeing them now. It’s something to enjoy."
With Messi now starring for Inter Miami and Cristiano Ronaldo playing his club football with Al-Nassr, their last competitive game against each other was in December 2020. The World Cup 2026 could offer the pair a chance to reignite their rivalry this summer.
