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One of the hottest, unending debates this generation has seen is the one between fans of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Both players have dominated football in the last decade and continue to excel for their respective clubs.
Messi and Ronaldo are considered two of the greatest players of all time, but their rivalry extends beyond that. Rather than compare them to football greats of old, like Diego Maradona and Pele, fans are eager to argue out who is better between the Portuguese and Argentine.
Having both competed in La Liga for nine years, Ronaldo opted to swap the Spanish league for Serie A, making it the fourth different league he has played in his career. Messi, on the other hand, is a one-club man, having played for Barcelona all his life.
That brings us to the main point of this article. Last December Ronaldo challenged Messi to prove himself in another league, as he himself has done.
"I'd like him [Messi] to come to Italy one day. I hope he accepts the challenge like me, but if he's happy there then I respect that," Ronaldo said, as quoted by the BBC.
Now, here are three reasons why Messi must accept Ronaldo’s challenge to test himself in another league:
#3 It’s a chance prove himself outside La Liga
Lionel Messi is undoubtedly a great player and his achievements speak for themselves. However, if there is one thing he is yet to convince many about, it is his ability to excel in another league. The Argentine’s commitment to Barcelona means he is yet to test himself outside La Liga.
By contrast, his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo has already tested himself four of Europe’s top leagues. The 34-year-old started his career at Sporting Lisbon and has gone on to chalk considerable successes in England and Spain as well.
Currently, the Portuguese star is also dominating the Serie A, where he is among the top scorers in the Italian top flight. Messi is yet to do all of this. The Argentine might still be achieving great things, but it doesn’t change the fact that he is yet to prove himself outside La Liga.
Accepting Ronaldo’s challenge gives him the perfect opportunity to prove himself in another league and to put an end claims that he would not be successful playing outside the Spanish league.
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#2 Messi must prove he can be great without Barcelona
When Ronaldo called on Messi to test himself in another league, he knew exactly what he was angling at with that comment.
"I've played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal and for my national team, while he's still in Spain. Maybe he needs me more. For me, life is a challenge, I like it and I like to make people happy,” the Portuguese said.
Indeed, there are a lot of people who doubt Messi can replicate his brilliance and achievements playing in a team other than Barcelona. The 31-year-old has won almost everything there is with the Blaugrana but to be rated as the greatest player of all-time, he needs to convince a bit more.
The Argentine is yet to prove himself outside Barcelona. Not only has he not proved himself at another club, but Messi is also yet to carry his national team as he does with Barcelona. He is yet to win a major trophy with the Argentina national team – something most of the other players considered as GOAT have done.
Some may argue that Pele was also a one-club man, but the Brazilian was effective both at the club and international level. He won three World Cups! The same cannot be said about Messi and that is why the 31-year-old is yet to prove he can be this good even outside Barca. Maybe he can start by playing – and succeeding – at another club.
#1 Not playing in another league always gives Ronaldo a better legacy
Football, like in every other sport, is all about legacy. Whether Messi likes it or not, his legacy will always be compared to that of Ronaldo when both are long retired. It is by no fluke that both players have been so dominant in the last decade, boasting five Ballon d’Ors apiece.
However, when it comes to legacies, Ronaldo currently stands tall. The Portuguese has played in four different leagues and has won almost everywhere. He won every domestic trophy with Manchester United, did same with Real Madrid and is on the verge of repeating the feat with Juventus.
Ronaldo has also won the Champions League five times. Aside from the fact that the 34-year-old has won Europe’s flagship club competition more times than Messi, the mere certitude that he has done it with two different clubs makes his legacy greater than his Argentine rival.
Should Ronaldo manage to win the Champions League again with Juventus, it would put his legacy further beyond Messi’s. The only way the Barcelona star can match up to this is to move to another club and replicate his success, just like Ronaldo has proven. Now that’s another reason to consider testing himself in another league.
