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Buffon Perfectly Sums Up The Difference Between Ronaldo And Messi

Buffon Perfectly Sums Up The Difference Between Ronaldo And Messi

The legendary goalkeeper has faced both the Real Madrid and Barcelona aces on numerous occasions.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

When the world ends one thing will somehow remain, the debate about whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is the best player. For now though we've got Gianluigi Buffon to sum their differences up perfectly.

Our fathers were able to debate whether Pele or Diego Maradona was the best player who ever lived without the fear of Twitter backlash and whilst also not really knowing as they'd probably never seen the Brazilian play and the two men didn't play in the same era.

It was all a lovely hypothetical and it didn't really matter who won the day, ahh what a world they lived in.

We all know Messi can't even match up to Emile Heskey and here's why:

Now the two best players on the planet currently are so tightly matched and arguably the best players to have graced the game. That mixed with fanboy culture means you can't say something good about one without backlash from fans of the other, this world is not as good.

Of course the rest of us are just mere mortals and whilst are opinions are as valid as the next guy it's best to ask those who have been in combat with both. Ahead of his clash with Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Buffon perfectly summed up the difference between them, saying:

"They are two completely different players.

"Messi is more complete, because he starts deeper, has more technical quality and a vision of the game that is worthy more of a trequartista than a finisher.

"Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps because he is a little older, has become a killer in the penalty area. Compared to how he was before, Ronaldo preserves his energy more, so he no longer goes out to the flank for a nutmeg or trick-shot. But with one ball into the box he can create a goal.

Ronaldo or Messi? Image: PA Images
Ronaldo or Messi? Image: PA Images

Buffon will once again be reacquainted with Messi on Friday night when he potentially makes one of his last few appearances for Italy as they take on Argentina at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium before taking England on at Wembley next week.

Italy didn't qualify for the World Cup meaning the friendlies, along with Italy's games against Saudi Arabia, France and Netherlands in May and June, could be his last appearances for the national side.

There is still a chance that he continues after the summer but this could be his last meeting with Messi whilst he has two more games against Ronaldo in the Champions League quarter finals for Juventus against Real Madrid.

For the rest of us we'll just have to keep debating, but I mean it's obviously Pele...

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Portugal, Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus, Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, Italy