‘Cristiano Ronaldo is LeBron James, Lionel Messi is Steph Curry’ – Comparisons between football icons and NBA superstars explained by ex-Barcelona loanee Kevin-Prince Boateng

The former Barcelona loanee once played alongside seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi at Camp Nou, while he has crossed paths with Portuguese legend Ronaldo down the years. Boateng is well placed to pass judgement on the all-time greats, with the ex-Ghana international explaining why a couple of eternal rivals from the world of football can be likened to talismanic figures in the NBA ranks that also have plenty of major honours to their name.

Boateng has told Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE YouTube channel: “I always compare LeBron James with Ronaldo, and Steph Curry with Messi. These [Ronaldo and James] both have their talent, LeBron James is hard work. Talent, of course, but hard work – like Ronaldo, hard work to be the best. Both these guys [Messi and Curry], they have just a gift.”

Boateng has also told a story which highlights how Messi is able to turn his special ‘gift’ on and off at the flick of a switch, with one memorable performance against Liverpool in the Champions League from back in 2018-19 springing to mind. Boateng said: “Liverpool first leg, we won 3-0, when Messi scored this free-kick. Unbelievable. So we’re coming into the dressing room, he’s just sitting there with his phone. Whatever, gets a massage sitting down. Two minutes before we go out he just stands up, closes his boots, we go out. Warm-up, just long balls, control, dribbling a little bit, crossbar challenge… at the warm-up Champions League against Liverpool. He goes back inside. Coach makes the last adjustments talking, Messi’s on the phone… The coach was talking, saying ‘now you have to go left, you have to go right’. Messi was FaceTiming: ‘Yes, Si, Claro’. Thirty seconds before we go out, he just comes down, puts his jacket on, goes out, boom. Go, go, go, go. Like this.”

Messi is now strutting his stuff in MLS with Inter Miami – with the Argentine currently nursing an unfortunate injury – while Ronaldo is showing no sign of slowing down at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr despite being 38 years of age.