ANGEL DI MARIA shared his strong view on the heated GOAT row between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Di Maria, 37, has played with both Ronaldo, 40, and Messi, 37, throughout his celebrated career.
The Benfica star spent four years with CR7 at Real Madrid and 16 years with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner at Argentina – one of which also saw them linking up at Paris Saint-Germain.
And after spending almost two decades with both football legends, the Manchester United flop is adamant fellow Argentine great Messi is the all-time best.
The winger addressed Ronaldo’s recent interview on LaSexta where he once more stated his assertion that he is the greatest.
However, the ex-Argentina international insists the numbers beg to differ as Messi has won everything and has more Ballon d’Or honours compared to the Portugal captain’s five.
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The ex-Juventus star admits Ronaldo is also one of the greatest players, but was born “at a bad time” when his biggest rival was “touched by the magic wand”.
Di Maria told Infobae: “I already know him [Ronaldo], I was with him for four years.
“I’m not surprised by Cristiano’s statements, he always made those statements, he wanted to impose what he wants to be , what he always tried to be, to be the best.
“He was born in a generation… at a bad time when another one was born who was touched by the magic wand.
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“It shows in numbers, it shows in everything. One having eight Ballon d’Ors, the other five, there is a very big difference.
“Having been world champion is another very big difference, one having two Copa Americas and the other only one Euro Cup is also a big difference.
“There are many differences, many. And then, you see it in the games, do you understand me?
“You see it in every minute of the game that one makes an effort in everything and the other plays as if he were in the backyard.
“Everyone knows what Leo is going to do and he hits the same goal as always and keeps doing it.
“He’s been doing the same thing for 18 or 20 years and everyone says, ‘You know what he’s going to do’.
“Well, go mark him if you know what he’s going to do. And he does the same.
“And he’ll still be 40 years old and he’ll still be doing tiki taka, tiki taka. That’s how it is, but Cris is like that too, he always declared himself that way, he was always the same.
“For me Leo is the best in the world and the best in history without a doubt and then we’re at Benfica and he [Cristiano] is from the rival [Sporting Lisbon].”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
