“Cristiano Ronaldo would have done it” - When ex-Argentina goalkeeper slammed Lionel Messi for sitting out of 6-1 defeat
Former Argentina goalkeeper Hugo Gatti called out superstar Lionel Messi back in 2018 for his absence in La Albiceleste's crushing 6-1 defeat against Spain in 2018. Gatti suggested that the former Barcelona star ought to have played, drawing a comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the Portuguese icon would have shown up.
Speaking on El Chiringuito TV, he said:
“Messi had to have played. People wanted to see you. Cristiano would have done it.”
The incident occurred back in March 2018 after the 36-year-old sat out Argentina's two fixtures, citing a muscle issue. The first clash against Italy was no problem as the side won 2-0 but they were thrashed comprehensively by La Roja in the following game.
Both Messi and Ronaldo have gone on to establish themselves as two of the greatest players of the sport. The current Inter Miami star led the South American giants to a fabled World Cup triumph in Qatar in 2022, while also lifting the Copa America twice in 2021 and 2024. He is the top scorer in Argentina's history, bagging 109 goals in 187 games.
The Al-Nassr forward has not enjoyed similar success, winning only one major international trophy with Portugal's victory in Euro 2016. However, he has achieved impressive personal milestones and is currently the top scorer in the history of men's international football with 132 goals in 214 games.
Pep Guardiola once voiced opinion on Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola threw his support behind Lionel Messi, suggesting he was the best player ever, over the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Pele. Speaking after Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph, he said (via PlanetFootball):
“Everyone has an opinion but nobody can doubt that he [Lionel Messi] is there, with the greatest of all time. For me, I said many times, he is the best. It would be difficult to understand that a player can compete with what he has done in the last 50 to 70 years. With the people who saw Pele or [Alfredo] Di Stefano or [Diego] Maradona, their opinions are often sentimental.
“If he [Messi] had not won the World Cup, my opinion about what he has done for world football, it wouldn’t have changed absolutely anything. Of course, for him it’s the final achievement of an incredible career.”
With considerable success on both the international and the club stages, it is safe to say that the Argentine hero is one of the greatest, if not the greatest player in the sport's history.
Messi linked up with Guardiola during the Spaniard's managerial stint in Catalonia between 2018 and 2012. He had some of his most productive years in that span, bagging 211 goals and 94 assists in just 219 games under Guardiola.