Diego Simeone was keen to clarify his statements made during a leaked conversation he had about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
During the World Cup in Russia last summer, Simeone seemed to imply that he preferred the Portuguese forward to his compatriot in a audio on WhatsApp that found its way to the press.
"What I consider is that in a team with fewer solutions, Ronaldo is a better fit because he provides many solutions," Simeone began.
"For a team which focuses on football, Messi is much better.
"We are talking about very fine margins of how a team plays," he stated.
"Cristiano can decide a game in a different way, he doesn't need ten attacks. He scored two headers against us and we were out," the Atletico boss said.
Simeone went on to speak of the subtle differences between the two world superstars.
"Both need a team but the differences are very small.
"Lionel, in an attacking team always plays better. The other [Ronaldo] can win a game in two actions, he simplifies the situations.
"Messi is mesmerising because he plays elaborate football.
"Leo plays in a team that compliments all of his talent. He always ends up finding solutions," he concluded.
KeepGen
656
Simeone is right, When you want to play beautiful and win as a team Messi is the solution, But when the team is weak and you just need to win no matter the play is beautiful or not then you would prefer Ronaldo. Both of them are the best in History, the debate about them should atleast last a century, its now too young to conclude their debates.
TheTactician
400
For probably the first time in my life I agree with Simeone. Messi is an elaborate player, and Barcelona completely compliment his style. But Ronaldo is more clinical. Luke Simeone said, he doesn't need 10 chances to change a game. Give him one chance and he'll score! He makes the game simple. In my opinion he will ALWAYS be the best player in history!
mickey00
276
Diego someone couldn't have put it better! Cristiano is smarter , a better reader of the game, and strategic than messi. messi's foot is glued to the ball, and has the better vision than Ronaldo. to make an impact , messi needs a team to get the best out of him; it makes his talent very delicate and needs the perfect coordination to bring out the best in messi; but Ronaldo can strategically impact a team even without. a system
Timmers
227
Messi should at times be a little selfish, especially when in the 18 yard box to try to shot on target to score as many goals as possible ratther than passing... Just like how selfish Ronaldo is when it comes to scoring... I don't mean Messi is really selfish but I feel he should be eagered for many goal... He seems a little bit reluctant by passing even when he got a chance to score... As the glorious chances sometimes end up being wasted... Just like the pass he gave to Dembele in the UCL first leg of semi-final against Liverpool... Messi gave glorious chances to Dembele that and he wasted instead..... Hands up Leø.... You're the best and we still love you
AbhijaiSingh
209
RONALDO IS A CLASS ACT. A WORLD CLASS STRIKER ONE OF THE BEST GOALSCORERS IN HISTORY BUT MESSI IS SIMPLY THE BEST EVER. MESSI CAN DO THINGS NO ONE CAN EVEN SEE IMAGINE AND SENSE. MESSI CAN'T BE COMPLETED WITHOUT MAGIC. RONALDO IS A BEAST. I PREFER MAGIC BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST IN REAL LIFE.
kharmtv
194
Only simeone knows the différent between Messi and Ronaldo this is why Messi performing well in Barcelona shirt not in Argentina Shirt.
AustinOstin
171
meaning Messi needs a Team that's great, and Ronaldo just needs an OK team, no wonder Real Madrid collapsed when he left the team. Respect to Messi and Respect to Rinaldo the Hattrick Game Changer for Juve
Yusuf_Tokee
150
Simeone made great sense today as his clarification was very correct... Indeed the Barca team and their philosophy brings out the best of Messi but Cristiano is someone who could play for a small team and score whenever he's provided the ball... Enjoy the game of both these guys❤
DiegoC52
139
Their traits depend on their body stature. While Messi is short and well balanced, Ronaldo is tall and physically strong. Ronaldo can tower his way over defenders and extraordinarily win aerial balls whilst Messi can dribble past defenders like they aren't even there. Both are great and should not be compared #GOATS
danny7_ida
136
Please don't compare that Barcelona player to someone who can play in every league in the world and still be a class act. There is no one in football that is as complete as Ronaldo. Left leg, right leg, head. Nobody in the history of football has these qualities like ronaldo. We compare ronaldo to European teams and not even a player. He is better than pele and messi. The only one close to him is maradona in my opinion. Messi is just a one man team who has no clue on how to win without his click. Ronaldo is the GOAT. Ronaldo is the perfect machine footballer. You can't even compare his mentality to the rest. I don't know where this messi comparison is coming from. It pains me to see that people think messi is half the player ronaldo is. I honestly see ronaldo miles ahead. Messi will never fit in any team on earth except barca. No one changes big games like ronaldo while messi does his best against teams like eibar ronaldo shows up against a giant team like bayern
Zevo-Gaming
102
This guy needed ronaldo to score 4 hatricks against his team to know ronaldo is good [Crylaugh][Crylaugh] I remember him saying BBC is equal to messi but after ronaldos hatrick he was silence
AbhijaiSingh
84
I LOVE MESSI , HE'S MY IDOL IN LIFE. THERE ARE WORLD CLASS PLAYERS THEN COMES RONALDO TO LEAD THEM AND THEN COMES AN ALIEN THAT MAKES FOOTBALL EASY
Unais-Pulikkal
82
Why this man call Genius?
teycoo
72
Ronaldo is surely the best cause there is nothing that he hasn’t done,he used to be the best in dribbling in his Man utd times and some years at Madrid,what he does is evolve with the game now he is physically fit and delivers what the team needs to achieve Trophies 🏆 BUT Messi needs a certain chemistry for him to shine in a team and Messi can’t deliver when needed by the team than fake promises😢,anyway my point is Messi doesn’t evolve with the game cause he hasn’t faced any challenges apart from playing in Spain for all his life around the best Cr7 is surely the Best,every coach thinks of him when they are about to loose a game😁😁
FRBunited
60
Sir Alex was actually right CR7 can play for Millwall, QPR, Doncaster Rovers etc and score a hattrick
luciano-mufc
50
wow Simeone just nails it with that statement... King Ronaldo is a powerhouse and direct .. whereas Messi is a build-up player .. they both play different roles and different styles ...however it does difer in the greatness and determination to impress themselves and succeed by doing it . King Ronaldo has win 3 of Europe's top 4 elite titles and he has individually top awards by all of those teams Messi also has so many accolades too and it doesn't change the face that they are just incredible , their passion there drive ... their class and attitude