Angel Di Maria has risked the wrath of Cristiano Ronaldo by refuting his former Real Madrid teammate's claim that he's the best in the world and asserting that Lionel Messi is the 'best in history'.
Ronaldo set tongues wagging last week when he insisted he was the 'most complete player' ever to exist. The 40-year-old has long been wreaking havoc in world football, becoming the greatest goalscorer in club and international football history, and it's the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's goalscoring potency which is often used against him in discussions over Messi being the superior player.
Many argue that the Madrid legend isn't as well-rounded as his longtime rival because the latter can create magic out of nothing and is more technically gifted. The usual suggestion is that Argentina's 2022 FIFA World Cup winner's ability was naturally handed to him as if the footballing gods touched him at a young age, while Portugal's 2016 European Champion's abilities were manufactured.
Di Maria Dismisses Ronaldo's Claim Over Being The All-Time Best
The Argentine legend explains why Messi is superiorRonaldo and Di Maria
Di Maria is perhaps one of the best footballing individuals to approach regarding the never-ending Ronaldo-Messi debate because he's played alongside both legendary forwards. He spent his entire international career with Argentina, helping Messi cut defences open and reach footballing nirvana by winning the World Cup in Qatar in late 2022, along with two Copa America triumphs. They also shared a season at PSG, although he was on reduced game time because of the struggle to fit in superstars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Yet, the 36-year-old Benfica winger starred alongside Ronaldo at Madrid for four years and built a strong rapport with Los Blancos' all-time top scorer. The attacking pair took six major trophies together at the Santiago Bernabeu, including the UEFA Champions League and the La Liga title.
Di Maria took this into account when giving a response to the Manchester United legend's comments (via Argentine outlet infobae):
"I'm not surprised (by his comments), I was with him for four years. It was always like that. He always made those statements, he always tried to be the best, but well, he was born in a generation, just at a bad time, because another one was born who was touched by the magic wand. The reality is shown in numbers. One has eight Ballon d'Ors, 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."
The former Paris Saint-Germain star also delved into what sets Messi apart from Ronaldo by what he can produce on a football pitch. He seemed to suggest that there's more unpredictability in the Barcelona icon's game and was adamant that there's never been a better player to grace the sport:
"And then you see him in the games, you see it in every minute of every game, that one plays as if he were in the backyard. He hits the same goal as always and he keeps doing it. And he's been doing it for 18, 20 years. 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 and he’ll still be 40 years old and he’ll still be doing tiki taka, tiki taka.
That’s how it is. But, well, Cris is like that too. He always made statements that way. It was always the same. For me, Leo is the best in the world and the best in history, without a doubt."
Angel Di Maria With Cristiano Ronaldo vs with Lionel Messi
Angel Di Maria Teammate
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Minutes Played Together
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Argentina's Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria before the match REUTERS/Molly Darlington
Messi has yet to comment on Ronaldo's claim, but he's not felt the need to get involved in such debates since winning the World Cup in the winter of 2022. The Inter Miami star is rolling back the years in the MLS at 37 and wasn't too fussed to pick up his eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023 once he'd become a world champion.
All statistics courtesy ofTransfermarkt- correct as of 13/02/2025.
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