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Mesut Ozil Answers Age Old Lionel Messi Vs Cristiano Ronaldo Question

Mesut Ozil Answers Age Old Lionel Messi Vs Cristiano Ronaldo Question

Ozil played with Ronaldo at Real Madrid so it's no surprise he picked the Portugal forward but their time together isn't his reason.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Mesut Ozil has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo's ability to play well in several countries is why he's better than Lionel Messi.

It's a question that will probably never go away, even when the pair are retired, and everyone wants to know someone else's opinion on the Ronaldo vs Messi debate.

On Sunday Ronaldo became the player with the joint most official goals in football history, tying with Josef Bican on 759 goals, although Pele will no doubt be along to dispute his number any day now.

Messi isn't too far behind his rival and actually has a better goals to game ratio and six Ballon d'Ors to Ronaldo's five, though again Pele technically has seven.

It's tough to split the two modern greats in reality but Ozil responded on Twitter to the question and believes that Ronaldo's ability to transfer his skills in several leagues puts him ahead of the Barca star.

Of course there is no doubt that the Juventus forward's record in Portugal, England, Spain and now Italy speaks for itself over the years.

Some players struggle when they move abroad but the former Manchester United winger has adapted every time he's moved.

He only played 31 times for Sporting's first side and it was long before he was a goal scoring machine but he did manage 118 goals during his time in England, with 23, 42 and 26 goal seasons in his last three campaigns.

In La Liga he became Real Madrid's all time top scorer and added four more Champions League medals to his one at Old Trafford, as well as two more league titles.

The goals and league titles have continued with the Old Lady, although he's finding European success a bit harder to come by.

Ronaldo celebrates his record equalling goal. Image: PA Images
Ronaldo celebrates his record equalling goal. Image: PA Images

The defence for Messi would be that, whilst Ronaldo's record is impressive, he's hardly doing a Maradona and building up minnows on his own.

The 35-year-old has played for the biggest sides in England, Spain and Italy and Juventus in particular had won seven titles in-a-row before his arrival.

Also on the Argentina forward's defence is the fact that people bemoan a lack of loyalty in football but use it with a stick to beat him with.

The Barca captain could soon be leaving the Nou Camp and have the chance to impress elsewhere, with both Manchester City and PSG primed to sign him when his contract expires in the summer.

Should Messi shine at either of those clubs he'd also hardly be joining a minnow.

There's plenty of arguments to back each man up as being the best ever and we won't fully appreciate their genius until they retire.

Who do you think is better Messi or Ronaldo?

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Manchester United, Barcelona, Serie A, Mesut Ozil, Lionel Messi, Premier League, Juventus, Arsenal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, La Liga