Rodri, the world-famous Manchester City midfielder, has sparked controversy in football circles with his comments about Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that the Portuguese star lacks innate talent compared to Lionel Messi.
Rodri, who is recovering from knee surgery, made the statement during an interview with Spanish television show El Hormiguero on Wednesday.
Reflecting on the debate over who is the greatest player of all time, the Spaniard firmly sided with Messi while also offering a scathing critique of Ronaldo’s abilities.
He said, “Lionel Messi is the best player of all time, without a doubt.
“Cristiano has managed to match Messi without innate talent. But those of us who have played against them can see the difference.”
The midfielder described the contrasting challenges of facing the two football icons, emphasizing that Messi posed a much more widespread threat on the pitch.
He said, “With Cristiano we didn’t want him to enter the area because he was lethal there.
“But with Messi, the danger was everywhere on the field.”
The Spaniard’s comments have sparked widespread debate among fans, with many interpreting his comments as a disparagement of Ronaldo’s natural abilities.
Rodri also used the platform to reflect on how he won the prestigious Ballon d’Or last month, beating Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior for the coveted title.
Counting, Rodri said, “There was a rumor three weeks before that Vinicius was going to win, so I was not optimistic about going to the gala.
“But just before I arrived in Paris, a lot of people started congratulating me. “I didn’t even have a speech prepared, but my father insisted that I prepare something just in case.”
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