Manchester City midfielder Rodri, ignited controversy in the football world with comments comparing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, claiming the Portuguese star lacks the innate talent possessed by his Argentine counterpart.
During an interview on the Spanish TV program “El Hormiguero” on Wednesday, Rodri expressed his admiration for Messi while offering a pointed assessment of Ronaldo’s abilities.
“Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, without any doubt,” Rodri said.
“Cristiano has managed to match Messi without innate talent.
But those of us who have played against them can see the difference,” he continued.
The midfielder went on to describe the unique challenges of facing the two icons, highlighting Messi’s all-encompassing threat on the pitch.
“With Cristiano, we didn’t want him to step into the box because he was lethal there,” Rodri explained.
“But with Messi, the danger was everywhere on the pitch,” he said.
Rodri’s remarks have sparked widespread debate among fans and pundits, with many interpreting his statements as a critique of Ronaldo’s natural abilities.
The Spanish international is currently recovering from knee surgery, also reflected on winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or last month, beating Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior to the honor.
“There was a rumour three weeks prior that Vinicius was going to win, so I had no optimism going to the gala.
But just before arriving in Paris, many people started congratulating me,” Rodri recounted.
I didn’t even have a speech prepared, but my father insisted I prepare something just in case,” he continued.
Rodri’s comments about Ronaldo and Messi have reignited the debate over football’s greatest player, adding yet another layer to the long-standing rivalry between the two legends.
