Remember when Cristiano Ronaldo vs Leo Messi was the only thing anyone could talk about? Thankfully that went away, but some people still ask the question. When Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller was asked who was the better footballer in a recent interview, his answer was interesting.
Between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who is the greatest footballer of all time?
Müller: I’ve been asked this question many times. For the first ten years of my career, it was Cristiano.
Host: Thank you!
Müller:
But when I look at the whole picture, the bigger picture, I have to say Messi. Not necessarily the greatest goalscorer, and not necessarily the greatest winner. He’s obviously a huge winner, especially after what he achieved with the World Cup in 2022. But even before that, I think about the joy of watching him play the game. It’s not just a circus trick for one year and then it’s over. It’s been almost two decades of numbers and enjoyment. That’s why I’d say Messi.
Host: I can take that. That’s a respectable answer.
Müller: You got ten years of Cristiano.
Host: Cristiano got ten! (people talkin over each other so not very clear)
Müller: I always lost against Cristiano. With Real Madrid, they beat us all the time. Not with Portugal; with Real Madrid. Against Messi and Barcelona, I actually had quite a good time. Maybe that’s also part of the truth.
You can catch the whole interview on The Late Run podcast on YouTube.
This take is consistent with what he said back in 2023, where he claimed Messi was the better player. However, what is interesting is that in the post-game interview following the clash against PSG, Muller did stir the pot by saying Messi can’t carry PSG like how Ronaldo carries his teams.
The head-to-head argument is a good one, though. A fascinating insight into how footballers look at legacies.
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