Rodri, the famed Manchester City midfielder, has sparked controversy in football circles with his comments regarding Cristiano Ronaldo. He claims that the Portuguese forward lacks the intrinsic skill of Lionel Messi.
Rodri, who is recovering from knee surgery, made the remarks during an interview on Wednesday with the Spanish television show El Hormiguero.
When asked about the continuing discussion about the greatest player of all time, the Spaniard emphatically declared Messi to be the superior player while also critically assessing Ronaldo’s abilities.
He stated, “Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, without any doubt. Cristiano has managed to match Messi despite lacking innate talent. But those of us who have played against both can clearly see the difference.”
Rodri also discussed the contrasting challenges posed by the two football legends, highlighting Messi’s omnipresent danger on the pitch compared to Ronaldo’s more limited threat.
He explained, “With Cristiano, we didn’t want him in the box because he was lethal there. But with Messi, the threat was everywhere.”
The midfielder’s comments have sparked a lively debate among fans, with many interpreting his words as a criticism of Ronaldo’s natural ability.
Additionally, Rodri reflected on his recent Ballon d’Or win, where he beat Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior to claim the prestigious accolade.
He shared, “There was a rumor three weeks before that Vinicius was going to win, so I wasn’t optimistic heading to the gala. But just before arriving in Paris, many people started congratulating me. I hadn’t prepared a speech, but my father insisted I prepare one, just in case.”
