Former German footballer Sami Khedira once weighed in on the Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo debate. Khedira has shared the pitch the Portuguese talisman but only played against the Argentine legend.
The Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo debate has been raging in football for the last two decades, when the two legends dominated the beautiful game. Their rivalry reached its peak when both were in LaLiga, playing for ardent rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively. Fans and pundits have made their pick in favor of one or the other, but the question of the better footballer will perhaps always remain unanswered.
In a February 2025 interview with talkSPORT, Sami Khedira shared his two cents on the GOAT debate, picking his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi. He said (via The Mirror):
Sami Khedira’s pick is not surprising, as he has shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo in 174 games across Real Madrid and Juventus in all competitions. They also recorded seven joint-goal participations.
Meanwhile, Khedira has faced Lionel Messi in 24 games for club and country, winning nine times and losing eight games. Seven games between them ended in stalemates.
In a recent interview in Miami ahead of one of his MLS fixtures, Lionel Messi shared his thoughts on his two-decade-long rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentine said (via MARCA):
Both Messi and Ronaldo bid farewell to European football two years ago. Despite leaving Europe, both remain at the top of their game and among the best players in the world today.
Messi has led MLS side Inter Miami to two titles since joining them in the summer of 2023. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has been focused on his goal of reaching 1,000 career goals before retirement. He is currently representing the Saudi Pro League side, Al-Nassr.
Pratyasha is an ardent admirer of Lionel Messi and has followed his journey since she was a kid; he inspires her with his dedication and humility. She has grown up watching, living, and breathing Satyajit Ray’s cinema, which she believes is timeless. She loves Taylor Swift’s music and thinks she’s a lyrical genius, and also admires Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone.
When Pratyasha’s off the clock, she enjoys reading books and listening to music. During the football season, she is usually busy watching football matches late at night when Barcelona are playing.
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