Manchester City player Rodri has sparked outrage in football circles with his comments regarding Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that the Portuguese great lacks intrinsic skill when compared to Lionel Messi.
Rodri, who is now recovering from knee surgery, spoke with El Hormiguero on Wednesday about the long-running argument about who the greatest footballer of all time is.
“Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, without any doubt,” Rodri stated.
He added, “Cristiano has managed to match Messi without innate talent. But those of us who have played against them can see the difference.”
The midfielder also highlighted the distinct challenges of playing against the two football icons, emphasizing Messi’s all-encompassing threat on the pitch compared to Ronaldo’s prowess in specific situations.
“With Cristiano, we didn’t want him to step into the box because he was lethal there,” Rodri explained.
“But with Messi, the danger was everywhere on the pitch.”
Rodri’s comments have sparked widespread debate, with many fans interpreting them as a dismissal of Ronaldo’s natural abilities, reigniting the ever-passionate Messi vs. Ronaldo discussion.
In the same interview, Rodri reflected on his recent triumph in winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or, beating Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior to claim the coveted award.
“There was a rumour three weeks prior that Vinicius was going to win, so I had no optimism going to the gala,” Rodri recounted.
“But just before arriving in Paris, many people started congratulating me. I didn’t even have a speech prepared, but my father insisted I prepare something just in case.”
