REAL MADRID legend Iker Casillas revealed why his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo has the edge over Lionel Messi in the GOAT debate.
Casillas, 39, spent six years in the Bernabeu dressing room with Ronaldo and reckons the Portuguese superstar is ‘more impressive’ than Barcelona’s Messi.
Real Madrid icon Iker Casillas favours Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel MessiCredit: Getty – Contributor
Cristiano Ronaldo spent six years with Casillas at MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is edged out by Ronaldo, according to CasillasCredit: Rex Features
Ronaldo and Messi have won 11 Ballon d’Or’s between them and will go down as true greats of the game but the perennial question of who is better is on every fan’s lips.
Casillas told ESPN: “Cristiano always had huge desire to be the best, ever since he was a boy and I believe he has achieved that.
“If I have to compare him to Messi, what Cristiano has done is more impressive because we all know the talent Messi has, but Cristiano was determined and worked hard to be the best,
“For people that don’t know Cristiano, he can appear to be cocky and arrogant, but it’s totally the opposite.”
If I have to compare him to Messi, what Cristiano has done is more impressive.”
Iker Casillas
Casillas and Ronaldo enjoyed great success together, winning LaLiga and the Copa Del Rey twice as well as the Champions League.
The iconic Spanish keeper lifted the 2010 World Cup as captain of his country.
And either side of the historic triumph led Spain to victory in TWO European Championships.
But Casillas did leave Madrid in 2015 in order to join Porto.
Tragically, Casillas suffered a heart attack during a training session with the Portuguese champs in May 2019.
Having not played a single game since the cardiac arrest, Casillas hung up his gloves in August.
He won the Portuguese league twice in a five-year stint with the club.
And Casillas is already planning his next steps after announcing his intention to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation in February.
Emotional moment Casillas breaks down in tears as Porto team-mate holds up heart attack keeper’s shirt after Cup final goal
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
