Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Ex-Barcelona & Portugal star Deco delivers diplomatic ‘ideal world’ answer in GOAT debate

The ex-Blaugrana star forms part of an exclusive club when it comes to two of the greatest players to have ever played the game. Deco has worked alongside both, at domestic and international level, so is well placed to pass judgement on who can be considered the best.

Deco, who is now sporting director at Barca, is reluctant to be dragged into that long-running debate as there are obvious cases to be argued for either side. He would prefer to see people enjoy the Argentine and Portuguese legends for what they are – iconic showmen that have thrilled audiences across the globe.

Deco told FourFourTwo when asked for his input in the Messi versus Ronaldo argument: “Come on! They’re two different players. Cristiano was a pure winger in those early days – he used to get the ball and only think about dribbling past his opponents. He grew a lot as a player, becoming the competitive beast we’ve seen for so long. He has always been keen to develop in every way possible. Messi has always been a natural talent. He has adapted his game over time, but his way of moving has always been the same, so it’s hard to choose between one and the other. The ideal world would be to have both in my team – with them, you just pass them the ball and the rest is done!”

It appears unlikely that Messi and Ronaldo will ever grace the same side – certainly in competitive action – as they are approaching the end of remarkable playing careers. Messi is now in the United States with MLS side Inter Miami, while Ronaldo is showing no sign of slowing down in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr at 39 years of age.