"You can't dispute that opinion" - When Sir Alex Ferguson commented on Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate
Manchester United's legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson once joined in on the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate with a classy take. He reckoned that what separates the Portuguese superstar from his Argentine counterpart is that Ronaldo can shine anywhere, while Messi seemed to be tailor- made for Barcelona.
The Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry is undoubtedly the biggest the sport has witnessed in its history. The duo have proven to be masters of the game in their respective careers and it's no surprise that they split the opinions of not only football fans but also iconic figures in the game.
Back in 2015, Sir. Alex Ferguson joined a host of other legends in airing his view about the never-ending debate. The former Manchester United manager gave the nod to his ex-trainee while pointing to his ability to thrive in different environments as opposed to his rival.
"People say who is the best player in the world? And plenty of people quite rightly say Messi - you can't dispute that opinion," he said (via Manchester Evening News).
"But Ronaldo could play for Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers, anyone, and score a hat-trick in a game."
"I'm not sure Messi could do it. Ronaldo's got two feet, he's quick, great in the air, he's brave - Messi's brave, of course. I think Messi's a Barcelona player," he added.
A look at both players in recent years shows that Sir Alex Ferguson wasn't far from the truth, at least to a good extent. Lionel Messi hasn't scored a hat-trick at club level since leaving Barcelona in 2021 while Cristiano Ronaldo has bagged hat-tricks consistently since parting with Real Madrid.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's stats this season
Cristiano Ronaldo has remained a true phenomenon in front of goal this season. The Portuguese superstar has bagged six goals and two assists for Al-Nassr in seven appearances across all competitions since the campaign kicked off.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, missed a chunk of the MLS season due to an ankle injury he picked up in the Copa America final in July, where he led Argentina to glory. Regardless, he's proven to be efficient in front of goal with 15 goals and 10 assist to his name in 16 MLS games.
With the two superstars still proving their worth on the pitch, we can rest assured that we'll enjoy them for a couple more years. The World Cup returns in just two years. It would be a dream come true for every football fan to see them shoot for the trophy one last time before saying goodbye.