5 great managers who chose Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo

#3 Jurgen Klopp

The Liverpool manager didn't need many words to settle the debate

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp surely knows what it feels like to face Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His team faced the duo just a few years ago and it was the Argentine who staged an incredible show.

Leo bagged two goals and one assist to inspire Barcelona to a 3-0 victory over the Reds at Camp Nou in the 2018/2019 Champions League semifinals. His second goal of the night was an incredible long-range free-kick that unbelievably crashed into the top corner of the net.

In the previous season, Liverpool faced Real Madrid in the final of the same tournament. Although the Spanish giants won, Cristiano Ronaldo didn't have much impact, with a Gareth Bale brace and Karim Benzema strike deciding the fate of the encounter.

No wonder when Klopp was asked to pick one player among the duo during a Q&A in 2018, he simply replied:

“I have only one selfie on my smartphone. That’s with Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo was in the room as well…”

#2 Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone has faced Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on multiple occasions

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone needs no explanation from anyone about Lionel Messi's greatness. The tactician has suffered from the genius of the playmaker several times while he was still in La Liga.

Simeone also offered his thoughts on the eternal debate concerning who the better player is between Leo and Cristiano Ronaldo. Addressing a leaked Whatsapp video of himself in 2018, the Atletico boss clarified:

"If I had to choose between Messi and Ronaldo then I'd most likely choose Messi. Yes I said [Ronaldo] on the video, but the conversation was between me and [Atleti assistant] German Burgos, talking about football as everyone talks about it."

"When I talked about Messi and Ronaldo it wasn't from the perspective of who is the best in the world. I just meant that if you have the chance to sign one of them for a normal club, with normal players, Ronaldo would probably fit in better. But with Messi, surrounded by great players, Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo."

#1 Pep Guardiola

The Spaniard probably knows Lionel Messi more than anyone

There's no better manager to talk about Lionel Messi's greatness than Pep Guardiola. The duo worked together at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, enjoying lots of success and playing arguably the most beautiful brand of football ever witnessed.

Leo won four consecutive Ballon d'Or awards under Pep's guidance as well as a whopping 14 trophies. As anyone would expect, the now-Manchester City manager believes the Argentine has no rivals - not even Cristiano Ronaldo.

Guardiola found the right time to make his fearless judgment. Shortly after Ronaldo won the 2016 Ballon d'Or, the Spaniard made a strong remark:

"Messi is the best, he is definitely the best. He knows how to play, score and make the other players play. He is always there."

"With all respect to all the players, first to Cristiano Ronaldo -- congratulations to him for the award -- I think Lionel Messi is on another level."