"A very interesting combination" - When Bayern Munich star opened up on his desire to see Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo play together
In 2021, Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller stated he wants to see Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo play on the same team. Messi and Ronaldo are considered two of the best footballers of all time and have won 13 of the last 16 Ballon d'Or awards.
In the summer of 2021, Messi left Barcelona after the club's financial issues made it impossible to extend his time there and joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Ronaldo was also coming to the end of his stint with Juventus, and at the time, Muller hoped that their availability would allow them both to link up in Paris.
Speaking with SkySports at the time, Muller said (via GOAL):
"If Kylian Mbappe is still going [from PSG], then I would have liked to see Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi play together. That would have been a very interesting combination, especially for me as a fan of the sport. You need players who are good on the ball and who are well off the ball. Cristiano has become a very strong final player. He doesn't need the ball that deep anymore. Messi and Neymar could have walked through midfield. That would have been interesting."
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo play for Inter Miami and Al-Nassr in The MLS and Saudi Pro-League, respectively, at 37 and 39 years old.
"I always like to play with the best, and he is one of them" - What Lionel Messi said about the possibility of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo
In 2015, Lionel Messi discussed the possibility of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo and Messi played their best football for Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. The pair have faced each other 36 times, with the Argentine star winning 16 matches, his Portuguese rival winning 11, and nine games ending in a draw.
Speaking about the possibility of sharing the pitch with the Los Blancos legend someday, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said (via SPORTbible):
"Yes, of course. I always like to play with the best, and he is one of them. I think it will be difficult for us to play in the same team, but obviously I would like to. I was lucky enough to play and participate with many very good players and, obviously, I would also like to do it with him."
Ronaldo and Messi remain in fine form despite being at the tail end of their illustrious careers. Given their ages, it seems unlikely that the pair will play together in a professional capacity.