"Without a doubt" - When former Real Madrid star picked Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo in GOAT debate
Former Real Madrid defensive midfielder Fernando Gago once picked Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo while opining on the GOAT debate that has been going on for about two decades. Gago, a Boca Juniors graduate, announced his decision to hang up his boots at the age of 34 in November 2020.
Gago has shared the pitch with both Ronaldo and Messi. He played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo for three years during his tenure at Real Madrid from 2007 to 2012, during which he was also on a one-season loan to Roma.
Fernando Gago played with eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi for 10 years for the Argentina national team after making his senior debut in 2007. While speaking to Spanish outlet Marca in 2018, Gago shared his opinion on the GOAT debate:
"For me he (Ronaldo) is not number one. For me, the best in the world is Messi because of the way he plays, moves with the ball and changes matches," Gago said. "Messi has incredible ability, and I love the way that he plays."
"We know that he has the ability to win a match in half a second, and that gives you peace of mind,” Gago told Marca on the subject of Messi in 2018," added the former Valencia star.
Fernando Gago heaped praise on his former national teammate:
"In every game I have the feeling that he can make us win at any time. Messi’s way of leading is with the ball, sometimes a glance is enough. He has an incredible personality. He understands the game perfectly. He has fought for 14 years to be the best without letting himself down, and that shows how he is.
"He is the best I have seen in my life, without a doubt," concluded the former Real Madrid star.
Fernando Gago was appointed the new head coach of Mexican club Guadalajara in December 2023.
Gonzalo Higuaín opines on GOAT debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
River Plate graduate Gonzalo Higuaín has shared his opinion on the GOAT debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The former striker, who has shared the pitch with both greats, finds it difficult to name only one, as ahe cherished his time playing alongside both legends.
Gonzalo Higuaín played with Cristiano Ronaldo for four years at Real Madrid and for two years at Juventus. He also represented Argentina alongside Messi for nine years. Higuaín said (via The Sun):
"(Ronaldo and I) had already played together with Real. Many years have passed, and I have found another player, a more mature person, with a family. I enjoyed playing alongside him before and I am glad that we are back together. I’m a forward, and I have the chance to play with Messi. It’s a privilege to play alongside him.
"Every time he gets the ball you need to be on your toes because you know that at any moment he can give you a great ball or pull your marker away from you. He does things that a striker can anticipate but a defender can’t," added the former Real Madrid striker.
Gonzalo Higuaín retired in 2022 after playing for Major Soccer League club Inter Miami since 2020.