Messi vs Ronaldo: "He doesn’t belong on this planet" - When former Manchester United and Barcelona star spoke about Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate

In a 2024 interview, former Manchester United and Barcelona defender, Gerard Pique picked between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Spanish defender is one of the few players who had the privilege of playing alongside the two legendary footballers during their careers.

When asked who he preferred between the two forwards, Pique picked his former Blaugrana teammate Messi, saying via Bein Sports:

“Messi has always been different from everyone else. Cristiano is the best among humans, but Leo is an alien; he doesn’t belong on this planet. I watched him train every day, doing incredible things. There will never be someone with his speed of thought and determination. He arrived at Barça at the age of 13 and played exactly the same way, both in the academy and in the first team.”

Pique played 40,524 minutes across 506 games with Lionel Messi at Barcelona, with the pair averaging 2.29 points per game to win eight LaLigas, seven Copa del Reys, six Spanish Super Cups, four UEFA Champions Leagues, three UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cups

Pique initially played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United, sharing the pitch with him for 596 minutes across 15 games. They went on to face each other as opponents 33 times, with the Spaniard winning 17, losing eight and drawing eight.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's football legacies

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are widely believed to be the two greatest footballers in the history of the sport. The pair have won multiple honors in the game since they burst onto the scene and inspired billions of people across the world with their exploits on the pitch.

Ronaldo began his career with Sporting Lisbon in his native Portugal before moving to Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus before he made a sensational return to the Red Devils. He is the most prolific player in the sport's history with over 900 goals to his name for club and country and currently plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

Messi began his career with Barcelona, coming through their famed La Masia youth development ranks to become the greatest player in the illustrious club’s history. He enjoyed a two-year stint with Paris Saint-Germain before joining current club Inter Miami in the summer of 2023. He has won three most Ballon d’Or awards in the sport’s history, with eight wins to his name.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are currently in the twilight of their magical careers at 40 and 37, respectively.

About the author

Patrick is a European and international football journalist at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. A Business Administration graduate with a professional experience of 10 years, one of his earliest childhood memories is watching Calabar Rovers play at the U.J. Esuene Stadium with his father, with whom, he connects with, discussing the beautiful game.

Patrick’s favorite team is Manchester United for their unparallelled legacy and success in the game. He is a big admirer of Michael Carrick and his ‘smooth’ style of play back in the days. His favorite manager is Jose Mourinho, who according to him, brought a ‘swagger’ to football with his unique managerial style. Robin van Persie’s title-winning volley against Aston Villa for the 2013 PL triumph is etched in his memory forever.

Patrick always uses trusted outlets that produce accurate, balanced and fair information, and which present multiple point of views. He believes in reporting in a holistic manner for the readers’ benefit. If he could change a football rule, he would increase the number of substitutions allowed due to the high number of games played these days, to reduce injuries and so that youngsters get to show their talent as well.

When not covering football, Patrick loves reading, writing poems and short stories, and spend time with his dog Lana.

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Edited by Sudeshna Banerjee