Vitinha, who has played alongside both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, believes the two everlasting rivals are more similar than they realize.
The two players have been compared to one another numerous times over the years; some believe Lionel Messi to be superior, while others believe Cristiano Ronaldo to be the greatest of all time.
The two all-time greats clearly contrast from one another; the Argentine icon is all about cunning and grace, whereas the Portuguese superstar combines passion and power.
Both have had incredible careers that have resulted in 12 Ballons d’Or between them, but a player who works with Messi at Paris Saint-Germain and is Ronaldo’s teammate at the international level (Portugal) thinks the two are comparable.
What did Vitinha say?
When talking about two game legends, Vitinha said to O Jogo, “There are far more things that unite them than things that separate them. They each have their own way of playing and their own characteristics, but the things that unite them are immense. The will to always want more, without taking into account what they have already earned, is part of it.”
Both Messi and Ronaldo, who are now 35 and 37-year-old, are still producing on important stages like Ligue 1, the Premier League, Champions League, and Europa League. They are both still determined to add to their medal collections with club and country.
Who is Vitinha?
Vitinha, whose Portuguese name is Vitor Machado Ferreira and who was born on February 13, 2000, is a professional footballer for the Portugal national team and Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain.
Vitinha, a product of Porto’s youth program, made an impression while playing for the reserve squad before being promoted to the first team in 2020. In his rookie season, he won the Primeira Liga and the Taça de Portugal, completing a domestic double.
In September 2020, he was loaned to Wolverhampton Wanderers of the Premier League, and he later returned.
He became a key member of Porto, earning a second domestic double, making the Premier League Team of the Year, and taking home the Best Young Player of the Year honors.
He transferred for €41.5 million to Paris Saint-Germain in June 2022.
Having previously competed for Portugal at various junior levels, Vitinha was a member of the under-19 and under-21 squads that placed second at the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and the 2021 European Championship, respectively. In 2022, he made his senior international debut.
Ronaldo and Messi this season
Unlike his arch rival Lionel Messi, who has been on fire so far this season, Cristiano Ronaldo has not been in outstanding form.
Last summer, Messi and Ronaldo both switched teams in an effort to attempt something new and, most likely, succeed.
Despite playing for a tired Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo had a great season in 2021–2022. He scored 24 goals and provided three assists the previous year.
However, Lionel Messi’s debut season with PSG was disappointing; contrary to expectations that he would rule the league, the Argentine only managed to score 11 goals and provide 14 assists, which fell short of his high standards.
Even though they are nearing the conclusion of their professional careers, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still the two most well-known football players in the world.
Both players did reasonably well in the 2021–22 season, indicating their continuous ability to compete at the highest level in addition to their great standing at the top of the sport.
Ronaldo had planned to depart Manchester United in the summer of 2022 because he desired to play Champions League soccer, which the Red Devils were unable to provide for him given their worst Premier League result ever the previous season.
Ronaldo remained a United player when the transfer window shut at the start of September because he was unable to sign with another team.
In contrast to the summer of 2021, Messi had a much more relaxed summer in 2022 because he remained with Paris Saint-Germain rather than trying to switch teams.
