"Doesn’t give a damn about the team" - When Antonio Cassano made a bold claim when asked to settle Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi debate
Antonio Cassano, who hung up his boots in 2017, weighed in on the Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi GOAT debate in 2020. The debate between the two legends has been ongoing for years now.
While sharing his opinion, the former Italian forward referred to the Portuguese icon as “a manufactured talent” while claiming the Argentine superstar to be someone “we’ll never see again.”
Cassano said to Diario AS (via Football España):
"Cristiano Ronaldo is a manufactured talent. You notice it on social networks where you see him doing sit-ups with his children. There’s so much talk about him, less about Messi. But in football, they are two completely different things. CR7 is very strong, but he’s built his talent."
“Messi, on the other hand, is [Roger] Federer, [Michael] Jordan, [Diego] Maradona. He’s something we’ll never see again in life, he has immense talent that’s a gift from nature. I often hear that Messi played with phenomena at Barcelona. I remember Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta, and, in the beginning, Ronaldinho. But Messi also made players like Pedro, Dani Alves, [Javi] Mascherano, and others champions," added the former Roma star.
Claiming that Lionel Messi has had more impact and contribution to his teams as compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, Antonio Cassano opined:
"He made many players grow with his talent. Ronaldo’s goal is to score goals, he doesn’t give a damn about the team or contributing assists. Messi, on the other hand, makes the whole team grow and he’s my idol."
Antonio Cassano has played for eight clubs during his career. He won the 2001 Supercoppa Italiana with AS Roma, the 2006-07 La Liga with Real Madrid, and the 2010-11 Serie A and 2011 Supercoppa Italiana with AC Milan.
Paolo Maldini takes his pick between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Italian legend Paolo Maldini recently shared his opinion on the Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi debate. While acknowledging both as greats, the former AC Milan defender said (via talkSPORT):
"I know Messi very well and I know Ronaldo very well, who have between them won the Ballon d'Or for the past ten years. Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? In my opinion, Messi might edge it, but Ronaldo is also a top player and a strong individual. But I prefer Messi."
Maldini started his senior career with his boyhood club AC Milan in 1984 and played there until his retirement in 2009. He has made a total of 901 appearances (33 goals and 43 assists) for the Serie A club while winning 26 trophies. The Rossoneri retired Maldini's No. 3 jersey after he hung up his boots.