Former Ajax and AC Milan striker Marco Van Basten has taken sides in the long-standing debate on whether Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world.
The Dutchman praised the Juventus forward, but maintained that the Argentine can't be compared with any other player.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, but those who claim that he is better than Messi don't understand anything about football or say it in bad faith," he told Corriere della Sera.
"Messi is unique, inimitable and unrepeatable.
"Players like him appear every 50 or 100 years.
"As a child he fell into the pot of football genius."
Van Basten retired at a relatively young age and he admires those who still play football at a high level while in their thirties.
"I basically stopped playing at 28," he added.
"I had won three Ballon d'Ors.
"Look at where Ronaldo and Messi are, both over 30 years old."
raynknight
2995
Messi is Like a Porn Movie , everyone Loves it but in Public they won't admit it 😎
Mocabeips
989
Why Messi is GREATEST of ALL TIME (1) 6 times ballon dor in HISTORY (2) All time best Playmaker in football HISTORY 4 times IFFHS world best playmaker (3) All time most ASSISTS in football HISTORY 306 Assists (4) All time best Dribbler in football HISTORY (5) All time best passer in football HISTORY (6) All time most chances created in football HISTORY (7) All time individual with most football awards. (8) All time talented footballer ever (9) Only player to win Best Player in every single he has participated BOTH Club and Country (10) Only player in football HISTORY to win FIFA club world cup, UCL, European Super cup, League cup, cops del Rey, Spanish super cup in the same year 2011 FINALLY only player to win GOAT award in football HISTORY.
Olarmideh
776
I think it’s quite rude to say anyone that says Ronaldo is better than Messi doesn’t know anything about football. The truth is they are both football legends and of course it all boils down to choice and preferences, how the manager wants to play. They both have there unique attributes we can sit here and argue all day about who’s better and still not arrive at a conclusion....I’m a Ronaldo fan but it doesn’t mean I hate Messi and we all know Messi is a genius, only him can do what you see in video games in reality and the fact that Ronaldo stayed relevant to be competing with him even at Age 34 is something we should appreciate. without Ronaldo Messi might not have 6 ballon d’or, football will be boring, imagine Messi being the only player winning ballon d’or since the past 11 years Messi’s talent is second to none but add every respect you can possibly get to that name Ronaldo
ForuGamou
693
We can’t compare these two legends. Let’s just appreciate their talents.✨✨
tindongj
516
Ofcourse all legends know messi is greatest .. Expect some keyboard warriors, Jason statham, Michael Jackson,pokemon, ronaldo's sister, john cena , one yahoo boy in my area and. Lord parker .. The lingard of admins
Bidabdlopr
494
Yes.. But still Cristiano Ronaldo is world best player also... If u not work hard, its impossible to be at a Top level as CR... But I also admit that Messi is one of a kind player that not easy to find in once at a lifetime.. Messi is a unique player & also genius footballer.. But people can't denied a player like Ronaldo that work hard in training.. Messi & Ronaldo is a different player.. But for me Ronaldo still the best player right now.. He is very determined player... All critics that being thrown on him just boost his motivation to be more fierlest player on and off the pitch.. His positive attitude has inspired many young people to be more motivated and confident in their talent.. He is an idol and icon on and off the pitch... U can't just take it the best player title off from him... Just because his a player which need to work hard to be at this level, than u say he is no deserve the title, rather than as Messi is born with that talent... If u born with it or u work for it u deserve to be the world best..
Mosanya
466
"Messi generates more football than Ronaldo, he has better vision of the pass, he has the ball stuck to the foot and finds the spaces." - Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
Bastyv001
391
Top 3 Greatest Player Of All Time: 1. Lionel Messi 2. Pelle 3. Maradona. Top 2 Best Player In The World: 1. Injured Messi 2. Cr7
raynknight
314
There's a reason why Football's called " The Beautiful Game " and everyone knows that Messi Plays most Beautiful Football , elegant , classy and Magical 💫 Messi Paints the Football like None does... - And There's only one 🐐
Mosanya
305
Players like Pele, Johan Cruyff, Beckham, Zlatan, Gary Lineker, Rául, Xavi, Neymar, Ronaldo, Scholes, Dí maria, Ronaldinho, Van Basten have all praised Messi and have labelled him as the GOAT which with no doubt he is...only haters will argue.
blacktitanfall
290
That makes CR7 more special he didn't fall into "The pot of football genius" as a child like messi......CR7 worked hard to become one of the GOATS of all time
fooboobxps
13
Ofcourse all legends know messi is greatest .. Expect some keyboard warriors, Jason statham, Michael Jackson,pokemon, ronaldo's sister, john cena , one yahoo boy in my area and. Lord parker .. The lingard of admins
everyone who is objective and compare the 2 will tell you messi is better, litteraly only cr7 fans and team mates/ some old team mates (not even all) will tell you he is better, and even some cr7 fans admit messi is better despite being a cr7 fan. messi fans and every other person in the world who is objective but isnt a fan of either will tell you messi is better, simply cuz he is. the only one keeping the debate alive are cr7 fanboys and will only stand of cr7 being better cuz he played for their club. ronaldo is a crazy machine but the magic of messi is what no one ever comes close to
proverbs360
9
Shut up.. most goals in friendlies or in competitive games? I rather score a goal with a trophy than 1000x goals with no trophy.. That's why Maradona will be rated better than him
sorry to say this but I think it's either u've got something "PERSONAL" against Messi or u have a "BRAIN DILEMMA" or something of the nature🙄🙄🙄 just saying.