Who is the biggest? Natural genius or work executioner? Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? The legends of football themselves are shared. Pelé and Zidane lean for the Portuguese, Maradona and Cruyff for Argentinian. But recently, another icon of the game, the Dutchman Marco Van Basten, decided to give his verdict. And he did not go there by four paths.
“Those who say it does not understand anything about football”
For the former AC Milan scorer, there is simply no debate. “Those who say Ronaldo is better than Messi understand nothing in football,” He said, before twisting his neck to the main argument of the pro-ronaldo: work. “People forget that Messi is still playing football?” The man is 38 years old. He lives for his sport as much as Ronaldo, and he worked just as hard. Because you can't be as good as Messi at 38 without working hard. »»
Mass is said. For Van Basten, oppose the ” talent “
From one to ” work “ on the other is heresy. The two are relentless, but one of them has something more. “Messi is unique, a player as he arrives every 50 or 100 years”he concludes. One way of saying that if Ronaldo is an exceptional machine, Messi is an anomaly in history.
Messi vs Ronaldo: the non -appeal verdict of Marco van Basten
An endless debate?
This position, as decided as it is, will probably not end the debate. Ronaldo supporters will always put forward his ability to triumph in different championships, his records in the Champions League, his longevity at the highest level. Those of Messi will respond with his 8 golden balls, his World Cup, his vision of the game and his unrivaled creativity.
Basically, this debate may be insoluble. He opposes two philosophies, two visions of football. But the release of Van Basten has the merit of recalling an essential thing: behind statistics and trophies, there is the game. And for one of the greatest artists that this sport has known, there is only one magician.
