"Stop this bu****it" - Paul Pogba provides response when asked to pick between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Paul Pogba has provided his response to the longstanding debate about who the better player is between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Juventus midfielder is currently unable to play professionally due to a doping ban. However, he found some time to hang out with video streaming sensation iShowSpeed, with the duo discussing football.
Their conversation inevitably got to the debate about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with Speed asking Pogba who he thought the better player was. The French midfielder refused to get into the debate, saying (via @Lionel30i X):
“For me, there is no Ronaldo vs. Messi—stop this bu****it. If I’m making a team and need to score goals, I would take Cristiano. If I need a playmaker who can score goals and make assists, I would take Messi every day.”
Speed did not seem too pleased about Pogba's final statement, as the video streamer happens to be an avid fan of Ronaldo. The legendary Portuguese forward is still playing at the age of 39, although outside Europe with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The same goes for the 36-year-old Messi, who has also left Europe for Inter Miami in the USA.
When Cristiano Ronaldo pronounced the end of the rivalry with Lionel Messi
Back in 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo spoke about his rivalry with Lionel Messi, pronouncing its end, with the two players no longer in Europe. They are widely regarded as the best players of all time, having won a combined 13 Ballon d'Or awards throughout their careers.
The Al-Nassr superstar said (via ESPN):
"I don't see things like that, the rivalry is gone. It was good, spectators liked it. Those who like Cristiano Ronaldo don't have to hate Messi and vice versa. We've done well, we have changed the history of football. We are respected all over the world, that's the most important thing.
"He's followed his path and I have followed mine, regardless of playing outside of Europe. From what I've seen, he's been doing well and so have I. The legacy lives on, but I don't see the rivalry like that. We shared the stage many times, it was 15 years."
Indeed, for 15 years, they fought for the biggest trophies in world football. Lionel Messi, perhaps, enjoyed more of the individual accolades, winning the Ballon d'Or eight times, compared to Cristiano Ronaldo's five times. The Argentine legend has also led his country to win the FIFA World Cup, something his Portuguese counterpart has yet to do.