Proof that age is nothing but a number: soccer superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Find out who the retired players consider having had a better career.
The rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest in sports history and we are all witnessing it now. Both of these soccer greats are well over 30 at this point, yet they remain two of the best in the world.
They continue to fiercely compete for the records for goals scored and championships won, often outdoing each other. Both Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United failed to live up to expectations last season, and while age may have played a role, joining new teams could have been decisive.
It is impossible to say for certain which of the two players is better. Some fans of the sport support Messi because they believe he has superior passing and dribbling skills, while others defend Ronaldo because of his superior athleticism and speed.
Messi or Ronaldo: The player former legends consider to be better
Fascinatingly, a poll found that Lionel Messi’s career was rated lower than Cristiano Ronaldo’s among retired players. For over 15 years, people have argued passionately about which one of the two superstars’ renowned playing careers is better.
However, a study conducted by The Athletic suggests that former professionals are more likely to agree that the Portuguese has had a better career. While just 34 percent of former players favored the Argentine ace, a whopping 66 percent favored the 37-year-old great.
Indeed, stats say that Ronaldo has dominated the English Premier League with Manchester United, the Spanish La Liga with Real Madrid, and the Italian Serie A with Juventus. He has an alarming goalscoring rate and has been very productive wherever he has played.
Meanwhile, Messi spent most of his career at Barcelona until moving to the French capital in 2021. But when it comes to individual honors, the PSG star has a leg up on the United front, having won an unparalleled seven Ballon d’Or awards to the latter’s five.