Football legend who played with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo says another team-mate will 'always be the best'

A football legend who played with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during his career has said another of his team-mates will 'always be the best'.

The pair are two of the greatest footballers to have ever played the game, and exclusively battled to be known as the best player in the world between the late 2000s and early 2020s.

Both are now reaching the end of their playing careers but are still scoring goals, with Ronaldo being named as 2023's highest goalscorer across top leagues while playing for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

One player who played alongside both Ronaldo and Messi was former Barcelona and Portugal star Deco, who featured alongside Messi at club level and alongside Ronaldo for their country.

Deco spent four years at Barcelona between 2004 and 2008, although a young Messi was only used sporadically until the 2006/07 season, when he scored 17 goals in all competitions.

Instead, Barcelona's key player throughout much of Deco's time at the club was Ronaldinho, who scooped the Ballon d'Or award in 2005.

And speaking to Spanish outlet AS, although he described Messi and Ronaldo as 'the greatest', Deco called Ronaldinho 'the best' he played with.

Deco explained: "From the outset, it is clear that Leo and Cristiano are the greatest.

"Especially because no-one thought they could take so many years to this level, but the one that impressed me most despite not being so decisive was Ronaldinho. For me, he will always be the best.

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"The moments I lived with him are difficult to compare to anything. He was magical."

On Messi and Ronaldo, he told FourFourTwo: "I remember the first time [I saw Messi play], and I see him now and nothing has changed.

"They were always very different. It was clear with Cristiano that he always wanted more. He always wanted more in training and in games - he always asked for more. He was a lot less calm with his success.

"The ideal world would be to have both in my team. With them, you just pass them the ball and the rest is done."