Angel Di Maria has weighed in on the Messi vs Ronaldo debate, describing Lionel Messi as a natural talent and Cristiano Ronaldo as the embodiment of relentless hard work.
The Argentine winger played alongside Ronaldo during Real Madrid’s La Decima-winning campaign and later helped Messi lift the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina. Having retired from international duty, Di Maria will not feature at the 2026 World Cup, where both Messi and Ronaldo are expected to make their final appearances.
Speaking to the official Ballon d’Or website, Di Maria explained the difference he saw between the two icons. “Cristiano was the personification of relentless effort, day in and day out… Always aiming to match Leo Messi, who had pure natural talent, a divine gift,” he said.
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He noted that there was a period when the two were evenly matched because of Ronaldo’s dedication. “The other one was dedicated to unyielding work to equal him and, at times, surpass him. This is why he has garnered numerous Ballon d’Or awards,” Di Maria added.
Despite praising Ronaldo’s work ethic, Di Maria picked Messi as the greater player. “In my view, Leo surpasses Cristiano due to his innate talent; he does not need to exert constant effort to match or equal another player,” he said.
Di Maria said it was an honor to play with both legends and described the experience as unique. “The most fortunate occurrence in my career was playing alongside two individuals who have been vying for the Ballon d’Or for the past two decades,” he remarked.
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