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| Messi and Guardiola at Barça |
Days after Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo was awarded his fourth Ballon d'Or award, Manchester City and former FC Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has come out to voice his opinion on the ever-present debate on who's better between the Barça magician and the Portuguese number 7 and Guardiola's opinion was an expected one.
Lionel Messi ended 2016 with most goals and most assists of any player, racking up 3 trophies in the process but Cristiano Ronaldo was handed the Ballon d'Or award on December 12 after winning the Champions League and European Championship. Barça coach Luis Enrique didn't quite agree with it and labelled the award “Melon d'Or” insisting Messi should win everyone possible.
Pep Guardiola who was Messi's coach for four years at Barça seems to agree with the Asturian, congratulating Cristiano Ronaldo for the honour but also stated that he thinks Messi is on another level, recall that Messi already scored 4 goals against his team this season including a hat-trick.
“I agree with Luis [Enrique]. Messi is the best, he is definitely the best,” Guardiola stated in his recent press conference on Friday.
“He knows how to play, score and make the other players play. He is always there.
“With all due respect to all the players, first to Cristiano Ronaldo – congratulations to him for the award (Ballon d'Or) – I think Messi is on another level.”
Pep is right.
Of course he's right, Ronaldo just rides on the back of his club, if his club isn't doing great then Ronaldo isn't doing great. Messi on the other hand, even if Barcelona are doing shit, Messi always turns up. I have no love for Messi or Barcelona, especially not after City had players controversially sent off in almost every game we played against them. I would never wish Messi or Ronaldo to ever play for my club, Ronaldo is a nancy boy who loves himself but I don't blame him, Messi is far too big a player and now 29 years old and we need younger versions. I think we already have the next Lionel Messi in the form of Brahim Diaz so it's just a waiting game. Messi is by far the best player in the world and on another level from Ronaldo, Ronaldo is on the same level as Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez and once upon a time Alan Shearer, Brazilian Ronaldo or Thierry Henry.
Ronaldo is just a poster boy footballer for girls, United fans and Real Madrid fans. Lionel Messi is every boys dream, kids echo his name, he's a house hold football legend still playing. Children wear carrier bags with his name on in third world countries where TV is scarce, the only flaw I'd say with Messi is, that he hasn't proved he can do it in England. If he came to England and proved he's still the same player then no one could ever dispute he's the world best ever full stop. If he was to come then obviously I'd rather it be City than anyone else, but like I said I'd rather he stay where he is if I'm honest.