“If they had been serious, they would extinguish Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo” - Samir Nasri names 2 players with more ‘pure talent’
Former Arsenal star Sami Nasri has named two players who had more pure talent than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Frenchman reckoned that Brazilian icons Ronaldo De Lima and Ronaldinho were more talented and could've surpassed the duo if they were more serious.
Messi and Ronaldo have been the standout players in the sport for the last two decades. Their incredible dominance has seen them win every individual award and trophy both at club and international levels, with many rating them as the greatest players the football world has ever witnessed.
However, Sami Nasri has a slightly different opinion about the two superstars. The former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder believes Messi and Ronaldo are not at the top of the chain when it comes to pure talent. Instead, he named Ronaldinho and Ronaldo De Lima as more talented players.
The Frenchman made the comment while speaking on the AmineMaTue podcast, saying:
"Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in pure talent, if they had been serious, they would extinguish Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. What Ronaldinho does with a ball is unheard of."
Ronaldinho and Ronaldo De Lima are indeed two of the most talented footballers in history. The duo were influential in Brazil's golden era, leading the Selecao to claim the World Cup fantastically in 2002.
They also colored European football with their amazing exploits on the pitch, winning the hearts of fans with their Samba style while claiming individual awards such as the Ballon d'Or, the FIFA Player of the Year award, and many others.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue entertaining fans and earning plaudits for their contribution to the game. As for which duo is more purely talented, it'll always come down to preference. What's true is that the quartet are up there talent-wise and have all made their marks on the game.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's stats so far this season
After serving a two-match ban as a penalty for an act of misconduct recently, Cristiano Ronaldo finally returned to action as Al Nassr locked horns with Al Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday, April 27. He failed to record a goal contribution as his team struggled to scrape out a 1-0 victory.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, stole the highlights with two goals and one assist for Inter Miami in the 4-1 victory over New England Revolution in the MLS yesterday. The Argentine now has 11 goals and six assists to his name in 10 games across all competitions so far this season.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, has bagged 36 goals and 12 assists for Al Nassr in 37 matches across all fronts. It remains to be seen what their tallies will be when their respective seasons conclude.