<p>According to former Premier League great Sami Nasri, two players had more natural potential than Messi and Ronaldo. </p>



<p>According to the Frenchman, Brazilian duo Ronaldo and Ronaldinho were more gifted and may have been more successful had they taken their careers more seriously.</p>



<p>The last twenty years have seen <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/hong-kong-to-invite-ronaldo-and-al-nassr-as-revenge-to-messi/">Messi</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/ronaldo-vs-messi-what-if-ronaldo-had-signed-with-mls-20240220-WST-490672.html">Ronaldo</a> rise to the top of their sport. </p>



<p>Many consider them to be the best footballers the world has ever seen; all thanks to their unparalleled domination that earned them every club and international prize imaginable.</p>



<p>Though Sami Nasri feels significantly differently on the two A-listers. In terms of raw ability, the ex-<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> midfielder thinks Ronaldo and Messi are not number one. He went with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho instead because of their superior skill.</p>



<p>In an interview with the <a href="https://twitter.com/AmineMaTueTV/status/1783920312762945900" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AmineMaTue podcast</a>, the Frenchman said: “Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in pure talent, if they had been serious, they would extinguish Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. What Ronaldinho does with a ball is unheard of”.</p>



<p>The ex-midfielder, who had several stints in the Premier League, retired from soccer in 2021. Retiring at the age of 34, the Frenchman won two <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a> championships and a League Cup victory after leaving Arsenal for Manchester City in 2011.</p>



<p>On top of that, he was suspended for doping for 18 months starting in 2018. Ex-City manager Manuel Pellegrini signed the player to a contract with West Ham after his suspension.<br><br>Unfortunately, he only made six appearances for the Hammers during his tenure in east London. Worse still, he failed to contribute in any way, either offensively or defensively. He does, however, seem to have some intriguing views on the soccer greats.</p>



<h2>How have Messi and Ronaldo fared this season?</h2>



<p>The likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo keep delighting supporters and garnering praise for their performances. The question of whether the pair is more gifted on its own will always be a matter of personal taste.</p>



<p>The Argentine has been a part of Inter Miami’s roster since the summer of 2023. He has been a major contributor this season, appearing in ten games across all competitions and netting 11 goals with six assists.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, this season, his Portuguese rival has appeared in 38 games for Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, netting 36 goals and assisting on 12 more. He joined the wealthy club last January.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240428_WST_504050_Ronaldinho-1200x670_fd97bd83.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-504069" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Ronaldinho-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Ronaldinho-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Ronaldinho-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Ronaldinho.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Ronaldinho was an immense talent for Barcelona and Brazil</figcaption></figure>



<h2>How did Ronaldinho and Ronaldo fare during their career?</h2>



<p>Simultaneously, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Nazario are undeniably two of the most gifted players who have ever lived. Together, they helped propel Brazil to its heyday and, in 2002, a spectacular World Cup victory for the Selecao.</p>



<p>Their incredible on-field accomplishments also enriched European football; they won fans over with their Samba flair and won individual accolades like the Ballon d’Or and FIFA Player of the Year, among many others.</p>



<p>While playing for teams like PSG, Barcelona, and AC Milan, Ronaldinho won titles in Italy and Spain. France Football presented him with the Ballon d’Or in 2005, recognizing him as the finest player in Europe.</p>



<p>At the same time, Ronaldo won many league and continental championships while playing for Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, and Inter. For his outstanding performance in both 1997 and 2002, he was named Ballon d’Or winner in Europe.</p>



<p>Photo credit: IMAGO / PanoramiC IMAGO / ABACAPRESS</p>

Ex-EPL star ranks 2 players more gifted than Messi and Ronaldo

According to former Premier League great Sami Nasri, there were two players with more natural potential than Messi and Ronaldo.

Ex-EPL star ranks 2 players more gifted than Messi and Ronaldo - World Soccer Talk


<p>Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the focal points of any club they represent. While their rivalries on the field are over, their debate to be the greatest of all time is one that will rage on for many more years. </p>



<p>The two have consistently shown contrasting styles throughout their careers. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/dutch-captain-van-dijk-defends-messi-after-van-gaal-controversy-20230906-WST-454446.html">Messi</a> was the brains and flair of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a>. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/former-saudi-pro-league-star-ighalo-ronaldo-plays-for-money-20230728-WST-446100.html">Ronaldo</a> typified <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> as the technologically advanced miracle that he was. Both dominated the game with very different approaches to the game.</p>



<p>When it comes to their on-field performances, they are icons. It is possible to admire both players and their respective playing styles. Not making a decision is okay.</p>



<h2>What did Ronaldo say about rivalry with Messi?</h2>



<p>That is what Cristiano thinks, too. The two superstars have had an intense rivalry in the previous years. Now, the Portuguese claims it is all in the past.</p>



<p>“The rivalry is over. It was good, a healthy rivalry that spectators liked a lot. Whoever likes Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t have to hate Messi or vice-versa, because they’re both very good. They changed the history of soccer, and they keep on doing it,” he was quoted as saying by <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66738794" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cristiano Ronaldo just ended the Lionel Messi debate 👏 <a href="https://t.co/oaveKyNy5R">pic.twitter.com/oaveKyNy5R</a></p>— GOAL (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1699771556203995177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>“We are respected throughout the world, that’s the most important thing. He makes his way, I make mine, even if we are playing outside Europe. He has done well, from what I’ve seen, and so have I.</p>



<p>“It’s about continuing. The legacy continues. The rivalry, I don’t see things like that. I’ve already said, we’ve shared the stage for 15 years and we ended up being, I wouldn’t say friends, because I never dined with him, but we are professional colleagues, and we respect each other.”</p>



<h5>Fans’ rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo lives on forever</h5>



<p>Most individuals, though, will have to choose one or the other. Most individuals will have a strong preference for one over the other. However, it is not necessary. That sums up Cristiano Ronaldo’s point perfectly.</p>



<p>The fascinating nature of this rivalry stems from the fact that both players have existed and dominated at the same time. Although Pele and Diego Maradona’s careers did not intersect, we cannot help but draw parallels between them.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Nicolo Campo</em></p>


"It's over": Messi no longer in Ronaldo's eyes as fierce rival

Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken out about his long-standing rivalry with current Inter Miami star Lionel Messi, saying that it has ended.

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Ex-EPL star ranks 2 players more gifted than Messi and Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo

"It's over": Messi no longer in Ronaldo's eyes as fierce rival