Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Marcelo names his 'toughest' opponent
(Courtesy : LaLiga)
The Brazilian spent plenty of years playing alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid.
Another star has offered a decisive opinion in the long-running rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Former Brazilian international Marcelo has disclosed who actually caused him the most trouble on the field, even though he was the Portuguese superstar’s colleague and close friend for almost ten years at Real Madrid.
Marcelo is one of the few players best suited to evaluate the two best players of their generation. The Brazilian left-back was on the front lines of the fiercest battle of the modern period during his 15 years at Real Madrid.
Even though he shared a trophy cabinet and a flank with Ronaldo from 2009 to 2018, the misery of trying to track Lionel Messi during El Clásico matches frequently characterised his domestic campaigns.
Marcelo picks between Messi & Ronaldo as his toughest opponent
In a recent interview with RomarioTV, Marcelo responded without hesitation when asked who gave him the most challenging task throughout his remarkable career.
“Messi [was tougher to face],” the 37-year-old said. “Messi was very extraordinary, like I’m still looking for him today, d*mn it. Man, he is very extraordinary… Messi understands all of the positions on the field very well. He knows when the guy is coming with the ball. He already knows where to go, where to get out and such. I think he is very extraordinary.”
Given Marcelo’s close relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu, the statement is especially startling. Together, they won four Champions League trophies as a deadly left-sided tandem. Their partnership did not, however, begin amicably.
After a furious dispute on the field during a 2008 international friendly between Brazil and Portugal, the two almost got into a fight.
Even though Cristiano Ronaldo has more goals overall, the underlying statistics frequently tip the scales back in favour of the Inter Miami captain. With one goal every 104 minutes, Lionel Messi has a higher scoring rate than Ronaldo, who boasts one goal every 111 minutes.
Why did Marcelo pick Messi over Ronaldo?
He has played against him most of his career while at Madrid.
Has the Brazilian faced Ronaldo?
Yes, during the international games between Portugal and Brazil.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.