"In the big games he isn't up to the task" - When Real Madrid legend questioned Cristiano Ronaldo and praised Lionel Messi
Former Real Madrid star Guti once preferred Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo for performing better in important games. Guti played alongside Ronaldo during the Portuguese ace's first season (2009-10) at Santiago Bernabeu. The Spaniard moved to Turkish giants Besiktas the following summer before retiring in 2012.
Ronaldo and Guti shared the pitch 25 times, recording three joint-goal contributions. Ronaldo became Real Madrid's record goalscorer with 450 goals in 438 appearances across competitions before joining Juventus in 2018.
In a 2011 interview with Spanish TV, Guti criticized Ronaldo for not turning up in big games, unlike his arch-rival and Barcelona legend Messi. He said (via EuroSport):
"Cristiano is a great player. He's decisive in many games, but in the big games he isn't up to the task, unlike Messi, who has shown he is. The very best players are the ones who work in the highest-level matches."
Guti's comments came when Barcelona were at the peak of their powers in Europe with manager Pep Guardiola at the helm. The Catalan giants had won two Champions League titles in 2009 and 2011, alongside the treble in the 2008-09 season. Guti believed Real Madrid should focus on home-grown talents to compete with their league rivals and added:
"We haven't taken care of the young players, we have spent more money on signings than on forming new players. The biggest sadness for me is to see just Casillas in the team. Madrid have some way to go to get to Barcelona's level. If they play an open game against Barca, it's very difficult for them to win."
Guti rose through Real Madrid's youth system, alongside legends like Iker Casillas and Raul. The midfielder spent most of his career playing for Los Blancos, recording 77 goals and 94 assists in 542 appearances across competitions for the club.
When Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammate Sergio Ramos named Lionel Messi as the 'best player' ever
In an interview with PSG TV, Cristiano Ronaldo's former Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos hailed Lionel Messi as the best player football has ever produced. He said (via Give Me Sport):
"There was suffering for several years playing against Messi. I am now enjoying him. He is the best player football has ever produced."
Ramos is one of the few players to have shared the pitch with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ramos and Messi played 44 games against each other between 2005 and 2021 during their time at Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively.
However, the duo became teammates when both joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. They shared the pitch in 45 games for PSG, recording two joint-goal contributions.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos played together for Los Blancos between 2009 and 2018, sharing the pitch 339 times and recording 15 joint-goal participations.