To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Who Legendary Football Stars Picked Between Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi

Who Legendary Football Stars Picked Between Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi

It's one of football's biggest ever rivalries...

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

A list of players who have chosen between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has been revealed.

The duo have been inseparable since rising to the top of football just over a decade ago and have won dozens of trophies between them.

But the question of who is the better of the two reared it's head again last week when Pele admitted he prefers Juve forward Ronaldo to Barca star Messi.

Image
PA

Image
PA

The Daily Mail have uncovered a list players from the past and present who have weighed in on the debate and we've picked out the key figures.

Pele - Verdict: Cristiano Ronaldo

The most recent example on this list, the World Cup winner explained he believes Ronaldo is the better player as he is 'more consistent'.

"Today the best player in the world is Cristiano Ronaldo," the 79-year-old told YouTube channel Pilhado.

"I think he's the best, because he's more consistent, but you can't forget about [Lionel] Messi, of course, but he's not a striker."

Diego Maradona - Verdict: Lionel Messi

Maradona gives his vote to fellow Argentine Messi, who he also managed at international level.

"I can't remember having seen Lionel Messi play badly,' he explained.

"I prefer Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo but I acknowledge that the latter is an animal. Football history will remember Messi. Football has given him a lot, as much as he has given the sport and to win a World Cup, in my opinion, wouldn't bring himself anything else."

Image
PA

Ronaldinho - Verdict: Lionel Messi

Ronaldinho played with a teenage Messi while he was breaking through at Barcelona and the Argentine forward inherited Ronaldinho's number 10 shirt at the Nou Camp.

"Messi. I would have loved to continue playing alongside him. I didn't get enough time with him, he was very young. I'd love to take to the pitch with him one more time," he revealed.

"He's the best in history, no doubt. Nobody has done what Messi's done. The other one [Ronaldo] is complete, he has it all. So does Messi, but it's a question of taste and I prefer Messi's style."

Sir Alex Ferguson - Verdict: Cristiano Ronaldo

It comes as no surprise that Sir Alex goes for former United winger Ronaldo who became one of the world's best players plying his trade under the Scotsman.

"Now don't get me wrong, Messi is a fantastic player, it's like he's wearing slippers when he controls the ball," Ferguson admitted. "But here, for me, is the difference. Messi is a Barcelona player.

"But Ronaldo could play for Stockport County and score a hat-trick. He just wanted to be the best in the world."

Image
PA

Kylian Mbappe - Verdict: Cristiano Ronaldo

Mbappe is the youngest player to feature on this list and it's interesting to see why he notes Ronaldo as his 'GOAT'.

"From one year to the next, my choice changes between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, even if I have to admit to picking Ronaldo more often. I loved him when I was younger," he revealed.

Image
PA

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Verdict: Lionel Messi

Zlatan's time at Barcelona was cut short due to Messi's emergence but it's safe to say it hasn't swayed his opinion.

"I think Messi is one of a kind. What he's doing, I don't know if we will see another player do the things that he does," he said.

"It is different [with Ronaldo] because he is the result of hard training. It is not natural."

It's a topic that everyone has an opinion on so we'll quickly rattle through a few more names below.

David Beckham - Verdict: Lionel Messi

"He [Messi] is alone in his class as a player, it is impossible that there is another like him. He, like Cristiano Ronaldo, who is not at his level, are both above the rest."

Paul Scholes - Verdict: Lionel Messi

"Ronaldo scores, he takes free-kicks. But as an all-round footballer, Messi - wow, his passing - he has absolutely everything."

Fabio Capello - Verdict: Lionel Messi

"Ronaldo's an extraordinary footballer, but Messi is a genius.

"There are three geniuses in football: Pele, Maradona and Messi. Period. Ronaldo is very strong as he helps you win everything, but Messi is a genius and the better player."

Image
PA

Zinedine Zidane - Verdict: Cristiano Ronaldo

"Cristiano is the best. Messi is his rival and it's the rivalry everyone wants to see. But Ronaldo is phenomenal. There are no words to describe him. He is much better than me even though I had a great career. He's the greatest of all time."

Image
PA

Ronaldo Nazario - Verdict: Lionel Messi

"He (Messi) is out of this world. Cristiano, too, but I see Leo as more complete," Ronaldo revealed.

"He's great. I like him much more than any other player. Everything he does is spectacular."

Jurgen Klopp - Verdict: Lionel Messi

"I have only one selfie on my smartphone," he said. "That's with Messi. Cristiano was in the room as well..."

The ruling comes out at four votes for Ronaldo in comparison to eight for Messi.

Who do you think is the better better of Ronaldo and Messi?

Sound off in the comments below.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Mbappe, Ronaldinho, Football, Lionel Messi, Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo