Just as fans of both parties in the never-ending Messi vs Ronaldo debate neared a temporary truce, Brazilian legend Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima has poured gas on fire by publicly admitting he favors the Argentine over the Portuguese ace.
In a video filmed by TMZSports, the 38-year-old former Inter Milan, Barcelona, and Real Madrid attacker, idolized by football fans and pundits from across the globe, revealed that Messi is the best in the world.
Whilst in Beverly Hills, TMZSports caught up with the 2002 World Cup winner and asked him one simple question: “Does Lionel Messi deserve to be called the greatest player in the world?"
Ronaldo's response: “For sure!” Watch the video below.
Despite a recent dip in form from Ronaldo, both players are currently enjoying a spectacular season, with Messi shaking off an abysmal start to the campaign to narrow the gap between him and Cristiano in the goalscoring charts.
When looking at their tally in all competitions (excluding country), only two goals separates La Pulga from the former Manchester United winger. The latter has scored 36 goals, 28 of them coming in La Liga. Messi, on the other hand, has found the back of the net 33 times, 23 in the Spanish Primera Division.
Leo and Cristiano have both won their fair share of individual accolades, clinching seven Ballon d'Or titles between them (four for Messi, three for Ronaldo) from 2008 to 2014.
It is thus easy to see why both players have an equal claim on the “greatest player in the world” title. Everyone has their case and opinion on who is better, backed with stats in favor of their argument, yet it still remains difficult to pick one.
However, one thing that both the Real Madrid and Barcelona attackers can't be called is the greatest player ever. Until either one of them wins a major trophy for their national team, the World Cup in particular, that title will remain out of their reach.
