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It is the question that has haunted football now for the past decade: who is better, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
His former teammates have voiced their opinion, fans around the world have voiced their opinion … but what about the best managers of the modern era?
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Surely, those who had to deal with them, or, more dauntingly, had to deal with them, should they be in a good position to settle the debate once and for all?
Messi’s ballerina feet or a Ronaldo headboard?
A left-handed chip or ten dazzling steps?
Ali and Frazier, Federer and Nadal, Bird and Johnson. The sport is characterized by its greatest rivalries, the contests that define the eras, those that make fans get up from their seats.
Messi and Ronaldo have been a blessing to soccer fans for more than 15 years, but the debate will continue as long as those who have seen them play continue to walk this land.
However, this is what the best game managers have said about the sport’s defining rivalry.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE
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Unsurprisingly, given that he was helped to three consecutive Champions League wins by the talent of the man, Zizou has chosen Ronaldo as the best in his history.
Zidane, himself a sports legend, also rapidly diminishes his own considerable talents compared to his former number 7.
The 47-year-old said: “Cristiano is the best. Messi is his rival and it is the rivalry that everyone wants to see.”
“But Ronaldo is phenomenal. There are no words to describe him. He is much better than me even though I had a great career. He is the best of all time.”
OUTCOME: Ronaldo
JOSE MOURINHO
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Ronaldo won the first of his two LaLiga titles under his compatriot in 2012, scoring 60 astonishing goals throughout the season.
But despite the success that CR7’s exploits helped him achieve that year, Mourinho cannot be swayed.
While out of a job last year, the 57-year-old man told beIN Sports: “I think it is unfair to both of you when someone [says] this one is better than the other. I think they are just different.
“When you go to Messi and Ronaldo, I think it is unfair to compare the players.” All I can say is that when I had Ronaldo on my side, he was a very happy man.
“And when I had to play against Messi, and also against Ronaldo because I played against Ronaldo several times, I had to think hard to try to help my team have a chance of succeeding.”
OUTCOME: To draw
PEP GUARDIOLA
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This will not surprise you.
Messi and Guardiola were an amazing combination and trophy between 2008 and 2012, as the couple racked up 14 cups together in Barcelona.
The now Manchester City coach’s love for Messi has stood the test of time, and after his favorite Argentine was thrown at the 2016 Ballon d’Or by Ronaldo, it was clear in his assessment.
He responded in a subsequent press conference, saying: “Messi is the best, he is definitely the best.
“He knows how to play, score and make the other players play. He is always there.”
“With all due respect to all the players, first to Cristiano Ronaldo, congratulations to him on the award, I think Messi is on another level.”
OUTCOME: Messi
ARSENE WENGER
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The former Arsenal coach saw both players terrorize his Gunners side.
Ronaldo was part of an amazing attacking triumvirate for Manchester United alongside Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney who regularly tore Arsenal apart as they fought for three consecutive league titles between 2006 and 2009.
However, Wenger also saw his side knocked out of the Champions League by a Messi-inspired Barcelona in 2010, 2011 and 2016.
The 70-year-old Frenchman told beIN Sports: “Artistically, Messi is also a guy who can give the final ball, making him perhaps a more creative player than Ronaldo.
“Ronaldo is more of a finalist, better in the air, more athletic, and Messi is more artistic.
“So basically you’re always tempted a little bit more by a player like Messi.”
OUTCOME: Messi [Just!]
MR. ALEX FERGUSON
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Sir Alex Ferguson brought Ronaldo to England in 2003, making the talented teenager the most expensive player in the world when he left for Real Madrid six years later.
While the Scotsman loves Messi as a player, the “complete” Ronaldo is still his favorite.
Speaking in 2016, Ferguson said: “Now don’t get me wrong, Messi is a fantastic player, it’s like he’s wearing sneakers when he controls the ball.”
“But here for me is the difference. Messi is a Barcelona player. But Ronaldo could play for Stockport County and score a hat trick. He has everything. He can shoot with both feet, head the ball, he’s so brave Like a lion.”
VERDICT: Ronaldo
DIEGO SIMEONE
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The ardent Atlético de Madrid coach has spent several years trying to poop in the couple’s matches as manager of the perennial least fanatical LaLiga contenders.
A leaked WhatsApp message in 2018 seemed to suggest that the Argentine really preferred Ronaldo to his compatriot Messi.
But then he clarified his comments at a press conference.
“If he had to choose between Messi and Ronaldo, he will most likely choose Messi,” he explained.
“Yes i said [Ronaldo] in the video, but the conversation was between me and [assistant] German Burgos, talking about football as everyone talks about it.
“When I spoke about Messi and Ronaldo it was not from the perspective of who is the best in the world.”
“I just wanted to say that if you have a chance to sign one of them for a normal club, with normal players, Ronaldo would probably fit in better.”
“But with Messi, surrounded by great players, Messi is better than Ronaldo.”
VERDICT: Messi
JURGEN KLOPP
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The German boom has faced both of them in the Champions League in past years.
Klopp has been very happy to defeat Messi in last year’s semifinal, while knocking out Ronaldo’s Real Madrid with Borussia Dortmund on the same stage in 2013.
Speaking in a question and answer session, Klopp smiled as he admitted: “I only have a selfie on my smartphone. That’s with Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo was also in the room …”
VERDICT: Messi
So who is the winner?
With four votes for Messi, two for Ronaldo and one abstention. [Jose, of course], we have a winner!
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Will Messi’s triumph with the best coaches in the world end the debate about who is the best?
Of course, no! But it’s good to know anyway.
You can give your opinion in our survey below.
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