For over 15 years, Lionel Messi and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> have been at the center of a heated debate about who stands as the best of their generation. Although neither player currently dazzles in Europe’s elite leagues, they continue to rank among the world’s top players by achieving impressive scoring records. In this context, German legend <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lothar-matthaus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lothar Matthäus</a> has shared his opinion on the matter, clearly stating his choice between the two stars.



“I am a fan of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/?page=3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Messi</a> because of his style... Ronaldo has more power and is physically stronger. Messi is smarter. If Ronaldo makes a short entertainment with Messi, it’s a long entertainment. And for this, I prefer Messi more. He has been more important for soccer in the last 15 years,” Lothar Matthäus said, via The Telegraph.



While both players have dominated the elite ranks of soccer for several years, their playing styles differ significantly. Cristiano is renowned as a physically exceptional player and prolific goal scorer, whereas Lionel is often celebrated for his natural raw talent, earning the label of generational. Although Matthäus may have chosen the Argentine as his favorite, the Portuguese star has consistently been a formidable contender, earning accolades from other soccer legends.



With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, Cristiano Ronaldo has an opportunity to close the gap on Messi by winning the tournament with Portugal. Arriving in top form with a balanced roster, the Portuguese star holds a strong national team to be favorite to take home the coveted trophy. Should he succeed, the 40-year-old star would equal the Argentine in this accolade, thereby silencing his critics and leveling the playing field.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/11/17151151/GettyImages-2219202316-1920x1080.webp" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Portugal" class="wp-image-604599"></figure><figcaption>Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates scoring a goal.</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Matthäus recalls Maradona in fierce battle for the best of their generation</h2>



Even though Lothar Matthäus refrained from declaring who the GOAT is, he reflected on his own legendary soccer career. The German may not be frequently mentioned in the eternal debates over the greatest of all time, but he undoubtedly crafted a truly legendary professional journey. He acknowledged that, during his era, he consistently competed with one formidable player for the title of the best of his generation: Diego Armando Maradona.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/news/is-cristiano-ronaldo-the-goat-ronaldo-nazario-brutally-slams-the-portuguese-star-in-the-long-standing-debate/"></div>


“Diego was the best soccer player of my generation. Of course, after me! We had soccer friendship. We were in those days like Messi and Ronaldo. The rivalry makes them great players. Diego and I were rivals on the pitch. We were fighting for our teams and country. Diego made me bigger and vice versa. We profited from each other,” Matthäus said, via The Telegraph.



While some might consider these statements to be exaggerated, Lothar was undeniably one of the most important players during the late ’80s and ’90s. As a Ballon d’Or winner and leader of Germany to the 1990 World Cup title, he dominated the world of soccer alongside Diego Maradona. His rivalry with the Argentine legend exemplifies the kind of competition now seen between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Lothar Matthäus makes bold claim in the long-standing debate

Cristiano Ronaldo gets shockingly snubbed by a former Juventus teammate in the GOAT debate

Lionel Messi reached an impressive 400 career assists: How many does Cristiano Ronaldo have?

Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Lothar Matthäus makes bold claim in the long-standing debate - World Soccer Talk

destacadas

When Lionel Messi brought his legacy—and global brand—to Inter Miami, expectations skyrocketed. With Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez by his side, Miami’s star-studded lineup suddenly seemed like a team ready for international competition. The cherry on top? A surprise invite to the&nbsp;2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where the Florida-based club would face some of the biggest names in global soccer.



But with the tournament just weeks away, optimism is starting to fade.&nbsp;Club legends and World Cup winners are beginning to sound the alarm. Inter Miami may boast talent, yes—but whether they can&nbsp;compete against Europe’s elite&nbsp;is another matter entirely.



The first crack in the pink armor came from&nbsp;Sergio Busquets, a man who has won everything there is to win in soccer. Speaking candidly at the&nbsp;F1 Grand Prix in Miami, the Spanish midfielder admitted that the task ahead may be beyond this Miami side.



“It’s clear that we’re not at the level to compete in the Club World Cup,”&nbsp;Busquets told DAZN.&nbsp;“But we’ll try to compete in the group, take it game by game, fight, and hopefully move on to the next round, although it’s going to be tough.”



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Sergio Busquets promete que Inter Miami presentará batalla este verano: “No estamos al nivel para competir el Mundial de Clubes, pero intentaremos competir en el grupo”<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MiamiDAZNF1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MiamiDAZNF1</a> 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/4TsKpB5TZS">pic.twitter.com/4TsKpB5TZS</a>— DAZN Fútbol (@DAZNFutbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAZNFutbol/status/1919118417144971443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote></div>



Placed in&nbsp;Group A alongside Al Ahly, Palmeiras, and FC Porto, Miami’s path to the knockout rounds already looks treacherous. And this frank assessment came just days after the team’s&nbsp;disastrous exit from the CONCACAF Champions semifinals&nbsp;against the Vancouver Whitecaps—despite a recent MLS victory over New York Red Bulls. But perhaps the most sobering evaluation came from a man who’s watched elite soccer from the top for decades.



<h2>What did Lothar Matthaus say?</h2>



Lothar Matthaus,&nbsp;Germany’s 1990 World Cup-winning captain and Bayern Munich legend, didn’t mince words in a recent interview. He praised&nbsp;Messi’s transformative impact on U.S. soccer, but made it clear that&nbsp;Inter Miami is unlikely to go the distance.



“Inter Miami will make a run, but I don’t think they can go to the final because the European teams and some teams from South America are stronger and better than the teams from Major League Soccer,”&nbsp;he told reporters via Zoom (Miami Herald).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250506_WST_568567_Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi-Inter-Miami-1-1200x675_ec3cdcef.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-565232" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/13222854/Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi-Inter-Miami-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/13222854/Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi-Inter-Miami-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/13222854/Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi-Inter-Miami-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/13222854/Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi-Inter-Miami-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/13222854/Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi-Inter-Miami-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/13222854/Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi-Inter-Miami-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/13222854/Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi-Inter-Miami-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/13222854/Luis-Suarez-Lionel-Messi-Inter-Miami-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



With&nbsp;Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter, River Plate, and others in the draw, Matthaus predicts the usual suspects will dominate: “I have a feeling four European teams will go to the semifinal.”



The 64-year-old added that the Club World Cup is no friendly summer tournament. With a&nbsp;$125 million prize pot, clubs have serious incentives: “They will play with their best 11. Everybody knows there’s a lot of money at stake… and the money is talking in soccer.”

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi no match for European teams at Club World Cup? FIFA World Cup winner weighs in — And it’s bad news

Inter Miami and Lionel Messi no match for European teams at Club World Cup? FIFA World Cup winner weighs in — And it’s bad news - World Soccer Talk

<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/vinicius-junior/">Vinicius Junior</a> dominated headlines this week after claiming the FIFA The Best award for 2024, following a stellar 2023-24 season with Real Madrid. While the accolade has sparked comparisons to Brazil’s greatest soccer players, a German legend offered a contrasting perspective, likening Vinicius to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/neymar/">Neymar</a> in both talent and behavior—on and off the pitch.



The Brazilian winger had an exceptional season with Los Blancos, contributing 25 goals and 12 assists in 40 appearances and helping secure the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles. Despite his impressive numbers, Vinicius has often found himself at the center of controversies, sparking mixed reactions from the soccer community.



German icon <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lothar-matthaus/">Lothar Matthaus</a> weighed in on Vinicius’ character, drawing parallels to Neymar in a critical manner. “For me, he is the second Neymar. He is a superb talent, but like Neymar, he gets in his own way. He stirs up the crowd, clashes with opponents, and provokes with gestures,” Matthaus said in an interview with Sport Bild.



The Bayern Munich legend emphasized the duality of Vinicius and Neymar—world-class skill and athleticism counterbalanced by questionable conduct on the field. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/real-madrids-vinicius-junior-faces-possible-sanction-for-disrespectful-gesture-toward-rayo-supporters-in-la-liga/">One of Vinicius’ last episodes was the provocative gestures he did during a game against Rayo Vallecano as evidence of this imbalance</a>. “Vini Jr. has an excellent finishing touch, speed—everything is world-class. But his behavior is heading in the wrong direction, and Neymar is the wrong role model,” he added.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241220_WST_544982_Neymar-Vinicius-Junior-Brazil-1-1200x675_fe3fd2fd.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-545008" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/20131019/Neymar-Vinicius-Junior-Brazil-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/20131019/Neymar-Vinicius-Junior-Brazil-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/20131019/Neymar-Vinicius-Junior-Brazil-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/20131019/Neymar-Vinicius-Junior-Brazil-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/20131019/Neymar-Vinicius-Junior-Brazil-1-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/20131019/Neymar-Vinicius-Junior-Brazil-1-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/20131019/Neymar-Vinicius-Junior-Brazil-1-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/20131019/Neymar-Vinicius-Junior-Brazil-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Matthaus also addressed the Ballon d’Or, which was awarded to Manchester City’s Rodri, underscoring the importance of maturity and composure. “For me, the Ballon d’Or choice with Rodri was correct. He has more charisma, more intelligence. Vini Jr. needs to mature, and if he does, he has the skills and the club to become the World Player of the Year,” he concluded.


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Reports suggest that conduct and professionalism factored heavily into award deliberations, potentially costing Vinicius the Ballon d’Or despite his undeniable talent and achievements. While his skillset continues to dazzle fans and pundits alike, questions about his demeanor remain a point of contention.



<h2>Vinicius’ response to critics</h2>



Criticism of his on-field conduct is nothing new for Vinicius, with many analysts highlighting it as a barrier to deeper fan connection. However, the Brazilian star appears unfazed by such comments.



Following his FIFA The Best win, Vinicius took to social media to share a message of defiance and gratitude, addressing his family, teammates, and detractors alike. “They tried, and they still try, to invalidate me, to diminish me. But they’re not prepared. No one will tell me who I should fight for, or how I should behave,” he wrote on Instagram, signaling his determination to rise above criticism.

‘He’s the second Neymar’: Germany legend critiques Vinicius Junior’s behavior after The Best win

‘He’s the second Neymar’: Germany legend critiques Vinicius Junior’s behavior after The Best win - World Soccer Talk

Former Germany international Lothar Matthaus has criticized the team’s decision to fly to the USA this fall. The Germans are set to play <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/usmnt-announces-fall-friendlies-against-former-world-cup-rivals-20230530-WST-435373.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">two friendly matches Stateside</a> in October. They will first face the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a> on October 14 in Connecticut. Four days later, the Germans will be in Chicago to take on Mexico. However, Matthaus has concerns about the travel.



“I don’t understand the trip to the USA – for a variety of reasons,” Matthaus told German outlet <a href="https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/nationalmannschaft/nationalmannschaft-lothar-matthaeus-teilt-gegen-dfb-reise-aus-84400836.bild.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BILD</a>. “I would have tried to create a good atmosphere in Germany before the Euros. That’s why I would be in all ten European Championship stadiums for the friendly matches and would have shown myself there once as a DFB selection. That can create a mood. But what do we want in the US at this point?”



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/germany-national-team-tv-schedule/">Germany</a> is set to host the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/uefa-european-championship-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 UEFA Euro</a> tournament next summer. Matthaus feels as if traveling to the U.S. could be detrimental to player fitness. “In terms of the health of the players, this trip is just as questionable for me,” continued Matthäus. “We want to be present with our own fans and fly to the USA. I don’t know why such a thing has been agreed to.”



<h2>Germany trip to USA is chance to bounce back</h2>



The Germans have sputtered in recent months following a disappointing World Cup in Qatar. After being bounced out of the competition at the group stage, Germany has since won just one match. This lone victory came during a home friendly against Peru. Nevertheless, they have failed to collect a win in four matches since the end of March.


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While other European sides are currently in the Euro 2024 qualification phase, Germany avoids the process due to hosting the tournament. This means that the team is playing friendlies instead. Germany has suffered back-to-back defeats to Poland and Colombia this month after drawing against Ukraine. 



<h5>News outlet has asked DFB to make change</h5>



The recent poor results made BILD start a <a href="https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/06/21/german-newspaper-starts-campaign-for-jurgen-klopp-to-become-germany-coach/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">petition</a> to make a managerial change. According to the newspaper, they want the DFB to fire current coach Hansi Flick and appoint Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. The move, however, is not expected to work.



Along with the U.S. trip, Germany is also set to play Japan and France at home in September as well. These friendlies could be a deciding factor in whether or not Flick will be in charge of the team for the 2024 Euros.



PHOTO: IMAGO / Kirchner-Media

Former Germany international Lothar Matthaus has criticized DFB's decision to send Germany to the USA for two friendlies in October.

Lothar Matthaus criticizes Germany trip to USA this fall

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