The debate on whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is the better player will continue to be a popular one considering that both players have reached astounding heights in their careers. Ronaldo was recently named the winner of the 2014 Ballon D’or over Messi and had been voted the FIFA Ballon d’Or winner for the 3rd time in January 2015, which he won for the 1st time in 2008. However, Messi actually went on to win the award four times in a row, making him the first football player in history to win four FIFA/Ballons d’Or, all of which he won consecutively.
However, in a recent interview with FIFA, Thierry Henry, retired French professional footballer said that he favors Messi over Ronaldo, partly because he has seen the Argentine in action when he played with him at the Barcelona Football Club. Henry was Messi’s team-mate between 2007 and 2010 at Barcelona. Although the Arsenal Legend never played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, he was at Arsenal when the Portugal forward played at Manchester United, and Henry was still at Real Madrid when Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009 in what was considered a record-breaking deal.
“Well, I played with Leo, so you can guess my answer (laughs). I have enormous respect for Cristiano who has managed to remain at the highest level for many years—and by that I mean at an extraordinarily high level.
It’s one thing to have to have a single great season, but to maintain it for so many years is something else.
I don’t think we fully realise just what these guys are achieving. So, while huge respect goes to Ronaldo, having played with Messi and shared extraordinary moments with him, both in victory and defeat, it has to be Leo.”
You can read the full interview with FIFA here!
