Manchester City star Rodri has waded into the GOAT debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - suggesting the latter edged his rival because he was "dangerous everywhere on the pitch".
Ronaldo vs Messi has been a fierce topic of discussion among football fans and pundits for more than a decade, with both players staking their claims to be the greatest footballer of all time after stunning careers that saw them compete head-to-head for the Ballon d'Or prize.
Ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United star Ronaldo has scored a career total of 928 goals for club and country and has won 34 trophies, including five Champions League titles - winning the Ballon d'Or five times along the way.
Messi, meanwhile, has 877 goals and 41 trophies, claiming four Champions League and eight Ballon d'Ors.
But Rodri has claimed Messi is the greatest "without any doubt" and has outlined the main difference between the two players - having faced them both in his career.
Speaking to El Hormiguero, via Goal, he said: "Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, without any doubt. Cristiano has managed to match Messi without innate talent. But those of us who have played against them can see the difference.
"We didnβt want Cristiano to step into the box because he was lethal there. But with Messi, the danger was everywhere on the pitch."
The 28-year-old was named the latest Ballon d'Or winner at the prestigious ceremony after a superb spell that saw him win the Champions League with City in 2023 and Euro 2024 with Spain the following year - after Messi had won three of the last four prizes.
Rodri added that he felt Messi had the advantage over Ronaldo during his career because of his ability to "dodge you like you were a bull in the ring" when you tried to tackle him.
"When Messi got the ball, youβd think: 'Oh, danger'," he added. "When I first started playing against him, I tried to take the ball from him, and he dodged you as if you were a bull in the ring. The feeling I had was that something bad was about to happen."
Rodri was taking time out to speak as he continues his long recovery from an ACL injury that is set to rule him out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Yutaklprtz
2
Still hurts
Blaqpablo
0
rodri won bcoz racists vote for him
did you vote
Blaqpablo
0
the difference between Messi and Ronaldo, for mean as to who is more dangerous, is there track record....CR7 has dominated 3 major European leagues while Messi only conquers 1 and that is Spain Barcelona and while CR7 played in Spain πͺπΈ for 8 years their he did manage to win 4 Ballon dors and a couple gold boots with a alot of goals for Real Madrid....and for the record Messi has 3 UCL not 4....
Messi has four....Stop confusing people.... would you say Terry does not have a UCL cos he didn't play the final
Blaqpablo
0
they have given you robbed balloon dor, why can't you support balloon dor robbery's π king π?
did you give him the gun he used to rob the balloon d or...you should have voted for vini
Blaqpablo
0
you just won one controversial balloon d or and that has given you the boldness to talk about Cristiano Ronaldo.
Who made controversial....He won it cos he was voted for
BigDaddyTrump8
0
Now Rodri is a FIFA Boy, UEFA Boy, Ballon d'or Boy. Only CR7 and your favourite players are not corrupted others are FIFA Boy
Rodri and Messi are good players that are dangerous everywhere π€·π½ββοΈ
Robbikpz
2
CR7 ZUUUUUU
Juniorpope
0
Ronaldo fan's won't like this, they will come after Rodri
fitceltuyz
0
Now Rodri is a FIFA Boy, UEFA Boy, Ballon d'or Boy. Only CR7 and your favourite players are not corrupted others are FIFA Boy
C_7
4
Thieves love each other ππ
Rocimpsy
1
people talk as if they don't know football how can you say that messi is 1000%good Dan Ronaldo Messi do everything in the time of football like magic when Ronaldo always did like fight Messi is always best knowing that
lbcrna
2
you just won one controversial balloon d or and that has given you the boldness to talk about Cristiano Ronaldo.
Homacikost
2
they have given you robbed balloon dor, why can't you support balloon dor robbery's π king π?
nuzbeimpsu
0
He speaks straight facts, not dig
Jumcnosuyz
2
bro is still crying for that champions league comeback when Ronaldo scored hat-trick against π€£π€£
zecdlmop
1
who have score the most out of the box 18 and in it,I think that will answered who is the most dangerous.
Potbdinpz
0
shame on you what kind of goat without world cup,ooh I went too far
posackmnz
1
Ronaldo has immaculate talent.
SURFASASFUC
3
Excellent description and im impressed by his Intellegence, very well spoken!
bataceny
0
who cares about you on ideas the corrupted or what that has lost credibility will make you speak nonsense about Legends of the game that will never be forgotten in the history of football who remember you in 10 years
You know nothing about football l. He will be remembered for ever because he is the 2 midfielders to win the trophy for over a decade but guess your knowledge is limited. Again he is among the team that first won the champions league trophy for city so that is history and every player in that team will always be remembered. I bet donβt know anything about that
Kaybimoy
1
After winning Robbery Di'or he has start talking trash
bataceny
0
the difference between Messi and Ronaldo, for mean as to who is more dangerous, is there track record....CR7 has dominated 3 major European leagues while Messi only conquers 1 and that is Spain Barcelona and while CR7 played in Spain πͺπΈ for 8 years their he did manage to win 4 Ballon dors and a couple gold boots with a alot of goals for Real Madrid....and for the record Messi has 3 UCL not 4....
Listen to yourself. Juve was dominating for more than half a decade before that come to stop after signing Ronaldo. Be factual because they did not dominate because of him but instead lost that domination because of him. United was dominating and in Spain he won just 2 La liga trophies. Champions leagues, Madrid continues to win it while the trophy alluded him so the story is clear. He was just another player in a good team and his exit hurts non of the teams because there usually records continue as the same. Without bale, Madrid was not able to make it to even a final
Lovebug2
0
Base on football Messi is the Goat
Ronaldo is only best in arrogance. He is the best European playera and this media is controlled by them. They can't stomach losing to a South American again
Lovebug2
0
rodri still couldnβt forget the nightmare cr7 gave him. π€‘
[image]
Things change. That was then , now CR7 wishes was Rodri
dindeimrsy
1
the difference between Messi and Ronaldo, for mean as to who is more dangerous, is there track record....CR7 has dominated 3 major European leagues while Messi only conquers 1 and that is Spain Barcelona and while CR7 played in Spain πͺπΈ for 8 years their he did manage to win 4 Ballon dors and a couple gold boots with a alot of goals for Real Madrid....and for the record Messi has 3 UCL not 4....
U don't even know history but U want to say something. Messi won champions league titles in 2006 2009 2011 2015 So how are these 3? Ronaldo couldn't dominate Laliga bro. Statistically and sporting wise, He has most often been in the shadows of Messi
raynardblake
3
the difference between Messi and Ronaldo, for mean as to who is more dangerous, is there track record....CR7 has dominated 3 major European leagues while Messi only conquers 1 and that is Spain Barcelona and while CR7 played in Spain πͺπΈ for 8 years their he did manage to win 4 Ballon dors and a couple gold boots with a alot of goals for Real Madrid....and for the record Messi has 3 UCL not 4....
Kesadlor
4
rodri won bcoz racists vote for him
Truthishere
4
Statistically, individually and collectively, Messi is above every footballer to have ever lived. Messi is incomparable. Messi is infinity!
bebbekmoz
3
The difference between pep and other coaches is that he can lose 4 straight game and he can sign a contract while others can get sacked ππ€£π₯π₯π₯π₯
Teediklopy
2
they should give him again the ballon d 'orππ
Poaacenosu
0
Who knows of your existence if not for your fake Balloon d'Or prize
You go explain tired, no evidence ππ
Fuzabeikms
2
Messi 41trophies while CR7 34 trophies which other proof can prove more than this that MESSI is the Goat
nekcdknry
2
who cares about you on ideas the corrupted or what that has lost credibility will make you speak nonsense about Legends of the game that will never be forgotten in the history of football who remember you in 10 years
putimopruy
0
Who knows of your existence if not for your fake Balloon d'Or prize
As long as it is not Cristiano then it is fake? But Madrid also procure some fake Balloondor for Cristiano. So why crying or has Cristiano also return the one he Robbed Ribbery?
putimopruy
0
Sometimes people speaks as if they were drugged or paid to speak like kids after they got new toys from another person
You just did exactly what you described. Congratulations to you, you practice what you say.
tysen
1
Sometimes people speaks as if they were drugged or paid to speak like kids after they got new toys from another person
Beaacoyz
2
Rodri? who??
Febbdemp
0
Base on football Messi is the Goat
and base on arrogant I think Ronaldo is the best
Pumacdmryz
0
Base on football Messi is the Goat
you're a kid
AFerXPaJ9605
6
ππ€‘
AFerXPaJ9605
4
rodri still couldnβt forget the nightmare cr7 gave him. π€‘
cuudilstuz
0
Who knows of your existence if not for your fake Balloon d'Or prize
Are your presently in planet earth? to say who knows the existence of Rodri or you watch cricket
moucelrsuy
2
me too I go for messi
Rozacdikuy
1
Who's Rodri?
Livingstone4u
6
Who knows of your existence if not for your fake Balloon d'Or prize
Hisimprs
3
Base on football Messi is the Goat