The debate over the greatest of all time is a constant in every professional sport, but in football, it seems to be a daily discussion. ..Continue Reading
Much of this is due to the fact that two of the sport’s biggest icons—Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo—have dominated the game throughout the same era.
For two decades, the duo has held football in their grip, trading the prestigious Ballon d’Or between them from 2008 to 2017.
Messi’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup settled the argument for many, yet Ronaldinho believes the discussion is far from straightforward.
He told Marca in 2024: “I’m glad Messi won the Ballon d’Or. We were also friends during our time at Barcelona. But I don’t like to compare, and I find it difficult to say he is the best of all time.”
Nonetheless, the Brazilian legend acknowledged that Messi stands as the finest player of his era, ranking him slightly above Ronaldo.
However, when reflecting on football’s rich history, Ronaldinho made sure to recognize the brilliance of past generations’ most outstanding players.
He added: “There was Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo [Nazario]… it’s hard to say that Messi is the best throughout the history of football. I can only say he is the best of his era.”
Diego Maradona and Pele are widely regarded as two of the greatest and most accomplished footballers of the 20th century.
Meanwhile, Brazilian striker Ronaldo became one of the most lethal and naturally gifted forwards of the 1990s and early 2000s, though injuries severely impacted his career.
Despite Ronaldinho’s hesitation in naming Messi as the greatest of all time, the Argentine superstar holds deep admiration for his former teammate.
Messi credits Ronaldinho for revitalizing Barcelona, playing a crucial role in restoring the club’s success and setting the stage for future dominance.
Messi claims “Barca should always be grateful for everything [Ronaldinho] did,” and praised the way the Brazilian brought happiness to the Nou Camp.
