By John Ogunsemore
The Greatest of All Time debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is one that has lasted years but fellow Ballon D’Or winner, Rodri has weighed in.
The Manchester City star clinched the 2024 Ballon D’Or after fighting off stiff competition from Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
He became the first Premier League player to win the coveted award since Ronaldo in 2008.
This year’s ceremony was also historic as it was the first time in two decades that either Ronaldo or Messi would fail to make the 30-man shortlist.
Two legends of the sport, Ronaldo and Messi share an incredible 13 Ballon D’Ors between them.
Asked to decide who the GOAT is, Rodri, who played against both players in La Liga while at Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, went for the diminutive Argentine.
In a chat with El Hormiguero, Rodri 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 didn’t want Cristiano to step into the box because he was lethal there. But with Messi, the danger was everywhere on the pitch.”
He added, “When Messi got the ball, you’d think: ‘Oh, danger’. 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.”