When questioned about his preference between playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, Kevin De Bruyne responded with a thoughtful answer.
Acknowledged as one of the premier talents of his era, the Manchester City midfielder outlined why he believes teaming up with Ronaldo would be advantageous, citing that Messi’s playstyle aligns closely with his own as a “playmaker.”
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Having encountered both players in club and international competitions, the Belgian star expressed his inclination towards partnering with the former Manchester United icon, attributing this choice to Ronaldo’s portrayal as a ‘classic striker.’
“I would probably say Ronaldo because he’s more of a typical striker,” De Bruyne stated.
“Messi is still more of a playmaker. “I am a playmaker, you can give me a striker.”
De Bruyne excels when there’s a central figure to coordinate with, a role he thrived in while partnering with Erling Haaland, who astonishingly netted 52 goals in his inaugural season at Manchester City.
Messi and Ronaldo have been dominant forces in football for over 15 years, accumulating an astonishing number of goals and amassing 79 trophies and 12 Ballon d’Or titles between them.
Their long-standing rivalry spurred each other to elevate their performances. However, as they approach the twilight of their careers outside of Europe, Ronaldo perceives that their once intense feud has dissipated.
“I don’t see things like that, the rivalry is gone,” Ronaldo said in a recent press conference.
“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. I’m not saying we’re friends, I’ve never had dinner with him, but we’re professional colleagues and we respect each other.”
