Is Cristiano Ronaldo more demanding than Lionel Messi? Former Barcelona Francisco Trincao – who has played with both – explains ‘win at all costs’ mentality of all-time greats

Two all-time greats have reached the very top of the game, collecting 13 Ballons d’Or between them, by expecting the very best from themselves and those that they line up alongside. They have always looked to lead by example, with the highest of standards being set, but are not afraid to pull team-mates up if they feel that collective levels are being allowed to slip.

Trincao forms part of an exclusive club – having worked with Messi at Barcelona and Ronaldo in the Portugal national team set-up – and has told Betano when asked who expects the most: “Both are very demanding. Maybe Cristiano seems a bit more demanding, but they both want to win at all costs.”

Trincao – who is now at Ronaldo’s first club, Sporting – was thrown in at the deep end when joining Barca from Braga in 2020. He added on finding himself alongside the likes of Messi and Gerard Pique at Camp Nou: “It's always a shock, because we're not used to it...They are players that I grew up watching play and it ends up being quite a shock, but they have always treated me well and I have adapted naturally. They end up being normal people.”

Messi is still going strong at MLS side Inter Miami – becoming the most decorated player in history during his stay in the United States – as Ronaldo has hit 50 goals for the calendar year while on the books of Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr.