Ryan Giggs has surprisingly picked Lionel Messi over his old Manchester United team-mate, Cristiano Ronaldo, when asked to add his thoughts to the age-old debate.
Throughout their careers, the legendary pair have gone head-to-head on the highest stage, winning 10 straight years of the Ballon d’Or between them until Luka Modric snatched the title in 2018.
Although fans are of differing opinions on who’s better, Giggs would perhaps be expected to plump for his old friend Ronaldo, but when asked who he thought was better, his answer was somewhat unexpected.
Many would have expected Giggs to plump for his old United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo +4
Many would have expected Giggs to plump for his old United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo
Speaking to DAZN, he said: ‘Obviously I lean towards Ronaldo a little bit because I played with him and saw him develop as a player.
‘But Messi is a genius, he’s a once in a lifetime player. It’s as simple as that.’
Giggs played alongside Ronaldo – now at Juventus – for six years at Manchester United as the team won three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
The Welshman has since gone on to manage his country, where he counts another superstar in Gareth Bale among his ranks.
Bale endured a difficult summer of transfer speculation, and Wales boss Giggs was asked for his thoughts on a topsy-turvy few months.
‘It’s strange. From the outside, it looks strange,’ he said. ‘For the quality he possesses and what he’s won there: four Champions Leagues.
‘I’m his coach for Wales, he’s recently been my captain, and is a good professional.
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‘He’s a player that can turn a game on its head like he did against Liverpool for [Real] Madrid.’