Why Pele and 3 other Football Legends choose Ronaldo over Messi as the World Best Player

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have defied the natural laws of football. Both players, in their prime years, simplified the art of goal scoring and set the bar so high, even Peter Crouch couldn't reach.


However, there exists a profound battle for supremacy between both players; a battle of who should be crowned the king of modern day football and ultimately the GOAT. This unparalleled rivalry reached a new level during Ronaldo's time at Real Madrid, where both players challenged each other with incredible performances weekend after weekend. Although the Portuguese goal machine now plays in Italy, his rivalry with the Argentine magician is showing no signs of waning.

The question of who is a better player between them is the hottest and most common debate in the football world. While some claim Messi is incomparable with any player, another fan base would rather have Ronaldo in their team, while others are happy to sit in front of their television sets and just enjoy the spectacle.




Let us take a look at 4 football legends who think Ronaldo is better than Messi and why.




1.Fernando Morientes: Fernando Morientes played for Real Madrid between 1997 and 2005, making 182 appearances and scoring 72 goals in the process. The former Los Blancos forward has 3 Champions league to his name in a career spanning 24 years. When quizzed in an interview about who was the better player between Messi and Ronaldo, the ex Spain International picked Ronaldo.

“The way it works in Spain is simple. If you support Barcelona, you would pick Messi but if you support Real Madrid, you pick Ronaldo. I played for Real Madrid for 8 years and enjoyed my time with Ronaldo. So for me, it is always Ronaldo,” he said.




2. Pele: The Brazilian legend is arguably the greatest player to ever walk the face of the earth. So great was his stock that the Brazilian government, at the time, considered him a National Treasure; he was not to be sold to a foreign club. Pele scored a whooping 1000 goals in an illustrious career decorated with a plethora of accolades, both sport related and otherwise. The former Santos man is unequivocal in his stand regarding this debate. Time and again he has professed his preference for Ronaldo because according to him:

“How can you make a comparison between a guy who heads the ball well, shoots with the left, shoots with the right and another who only shoots with one leg, only has one skill and doesn't head the ball well? How can you compare? To compare with Pele, it has to be someone who shoots well with the left, shoots well with the right and scores headers."




3. Roberto Carlos: The left full back position is closely associated with one name, Roberto Carlos. The Brazilian legend boasts of a illustrious career crowned with a World Cup trophy. According to him, Ronaldo’s training, personality, focus, motivation and success driven nature sets him apart from the rest.




4. Ronaldo De Lima: Before Messi and Ronaldo came to the limelight, the football world generally recognized Ronaldo De Lima as the most prolific goal scorer of the new millennium. Unfortunately, injuries plagued his career and we never really got to see the best of Ronaldo. Oh what a phenomenon he would have been! The former Selecao star believes Ronaldo is the better footballer because of his “numbers”. According to him, Ronaldo’s numbers can’t be ignored.




The question of who is the better player between Messi and Ronaldo is an unending debate. It will linger for decades; centuries; till the final whistle blows.