Javier Tebas has shared his thoughts on the unending debate regarding who is the greater footballer between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Tebas expressed that Ronaldo and Messi are two of the “best players in history”, but he opted to go with the latter when speaking about who ranks highest amongst the pair.
Javier Tebas’ Choice Between Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo
Javier Tebas speaking during an interview with Juan Jose Buscalia from DSports, weighed on the matter, whilst affirming that players are key in the game but not “essential for a competition”.
The Spaniard said: “Lionel and Cristiano are the best two players in history, with Messi as first. Players are important but not essential for a competition.”
He added that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been at the “highest level” since they were 18, and we will never see another set of players be at that level for such a lengthy timeframe.
Tebas said: “Trying to repeat it for so long, because Messi and Cristiano have been at the highest level since they were 18, it will never happen again, the stars have aligned.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are widely considered two of the greatest footballers in the history of football.
The pair have won 13 Ballon d’Or altogether, with Messi winning 8 thus far, while Ronaldo has 5.
Ronaldo and Messi battled immensely in Spain and their rivalry peaked during their spell with Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest goalscorer in club football history, with 757 goals in 1009 appearances.
He is also the highest goalscorer in International football history, with 128 goals in 206 appearances.
Lionel Messi has also scored a massive amount of goals at club and international levels, scoring 727 goals in 901 club appearances.
Internationally, Messi has scored 106 goals in 180 appearances across all competitions.
The duo are at the twilight of their careers, but they continue to accentuate brilliance for their respective clubs.
Lionel Messi currently plays for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, having joined the club in the summer of 2023, following the expiration of his contract with Paris Saint Germain.
Messi has scored 23 goals and provided 16 assists in 26 appearances for the Herons across all competitions.
His opposite number Cristiano Ronaldo, plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, and he has netted 56 goals and provided 14 assists in 60 appearances across all competitions.
When will Ronaldo and Messi Retire?
It is unknown when they are going to call time on their respective football careers, but they continue to receive massive respect and adulation from fans across the globe.
Lionel Messi has virtually everything that he aimed to achieve in his career, with the crowning glory being the FIFA World Cup title, which he guided Argentina to win in 2022.
He has won several trophies in his career, including; 4 UEFA Champions League titles, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, and 12 league titles (10 La Ligas and 2 Ligue 1).
Cristiano Ronaldo has also won several trophies in his stellar career, including; 5 UEFA Champions Leagues, 7 league titles (3 Premier League, 2 La Liga, and 2 Serie A), alongside 4 FIFA Club World Cups.
