Manchester City midfielder Rodri has reignited the football world's age-old debate by declaring Lionel Messi the greatest player of all time while casting doubt on Cristiano Ronaldo's innate abilities.
Speaking during an interview on the Spanish TV program El Hormiguero on Wednesday, November 20, Rodri didn’t mince words about his admiration for Messi. “Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, without any doubt,” the Spaniard said.
The Ballon d’Or winner elaborated on the differences between the two football legends, noting that while Ronaldo has achieved greatness, it hasn’t been through natural talent. “Cristiano has managed to match Messi without innate talent. But those of us who have played against them can see the difference,” he remarked.
Rodri also highlighted the distinct challenges of playing against the two icons. He described Ronaldo as a lethal threat inside the box but emphasized that Messi's danger lies in his ability to dominate from anywhere on the pitch.
“With Cristiano, we didn’t want him to step into the box because he was lethal there. But with Messi, the danger was everywhere on the pitch,” he explained.
