New Delhi: In the Copa America 2024, Lionel Messi lifted the trophy for the second time and became the second-highest international scorer. However, Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance was less brilliant in UEFA Euro 2024. He failed to score for Portugal as the side exited the tournament in the quarter-final stages. As usual, the contrasting results sparked another debate between the two football icons.
Now, former Argentina player Angel Di Maria has given his take on the debate. According to Di Maria, Messi has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, three times more than Ronaldo, which means he is ahead of the Portuguese striker and is the world’s best.
Di Maria recently retired from international football after the completion of the Copa tournament. The winger was known for his versatility on the pitch. Di Maria had played for big clubs, including Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germanin, since moving from Madrid. The 36-year-old has enjoyed sharing a dressing room with Messi in Argentina’s national team and Ronaldo during his time in Real Madrid. Even previously, Di Maria had rated the duo as the best in football.
Messi’s recent triumph at the Copa meant he has four international trophies, while Ronaldo has only two. During Argentina’s clash against Canada in the semi-finals, Messi scored his 109th goal, surpassing Iran Ali Daei to become the second-highest goal-scorer in international football. The 37-year-old is behind Ronaldo, who has 130 goals from 212 games for his country.
Messi was injured for most of the Copa after sustaining a leg injury and even sat on the bench in Argentina’s clash against Peru. Cristiano Ronaldo, for the first time, went goalless in the Euros. Critics have seen this as one of the reasons that impacted Portugal’s performance and progression in the tournament.
In the final, Argentina won after a goal in the extra time against Colombia from the tournament’s highest goal scorer, Lautaro Martinez. After lifting his second back-to-back Copa trophy, Messi will return to the MLS, playing with Inter Miami. Ronaldo will look for a long rest before he begins his campaign with Al-Nassr for the Saudi Pro League.
Former Argentina player gives his take on Messi-Ronaldo debate having played with both the players. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
