PRIME Ronaldinho was better than Lionel Messi and is “touched by God”, believes the Brazilian’s former team-mate Martin Cardetti.
The pair played together for one season at Paris Saint-Germain in 2002/03 before they both left for Spain.
Martin Cardetti reckons his ex-PSG pal Ronaldinho was a better player than Lionel MessiCredit: PA:Press Association
Cardetti joined Real Valladolid while Ronaldinho signed for Barcelona, where he would go on to become one of the best players in the world and took a young Messi under his wing.
The tricky playmaker won the Ballon d’Or in 2005 and picked up two LaLigas plus a Champions League in Spain.
Messi, though, is widely considered to be the greatest footballer of all time – although the debate rages on comparing him with Cristiano Ronaldo.
His record six Ballons d’Or as well as ten LaLiga crowns, four Champions Leagues and three Club World Cups back up those claims.
But Messi’s fellow Argentine Cardetti reckons he would rather have Ronaldinho.
He told Crack Deportivo: “As a coach, for my team I would choose Ronaldinho at his best over Messi.
“I shared a year with Ronaldinho and he is a different player, he’s touched by God.
“He always had fun, with the ball he was always doing things and he practiced a lot so that he could replicate those things in matches.”
Cardetti retired in 2010 and is now manager of Mushuc Runa in the Ecuadorian top flight.
Speaking about his former team-mate Ronaldinho, he added: “You see him in training, in matches and every move he makes is different from everyone.
“Players like him appear very rarely and they are remembered in football history.
“I’m proud to have been a team-mate of that kind of player.”
Ronaldinho hit the headlines earlier this year when he was imprisoned for his involvement in using a fake passport to enter Paraguay.
He spent his 40th birthday behind bars but was released on house arrest at the Hotel Palmaroga, in Paraguayan capital city Asuncion, with the legend given a football and large room to practise in.
Barcelona star Messi angrily hit back at reports that claimed he had bailed the Brazilian out of prison.
For Messi, meanwhile, he returned to Barcelona’s training ground for the first time since March 13 on Wednesday.
He and his Barca pals are all being tested for coronavirus as they begin individual sessions at the complex.
Ronaldinho plays foot volley with ease in prison as Brazil and Barcelona legend proves his touch is as good as ever
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
