For more than a decade there have always been a debate among football lovers whether Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is the best in the world and whether either man can lay claim to the title of best ever.
It comes natural, because the duo have taken the competition to a level above that of an ordinary player. With Messi winning an all-time record six ballon d’Or awards and Cristiano laying hands on five, you can’t think beyond the two.
However, Barcelona and Spanish legend Xavi praised his former teammate Lionel Messi as the greatest player in the history of football, while placing Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo in the next tier below the Argentine.
The iconic no.8 made reference to Messi’s consistency in the game as what differentiates him from another of his former teammate Ronaldinho who shares quite a similar talent to the Catalan captain.
“Ronaldinho is at the level of the best, perhaps what he lacked was consistency,” the Al Sadd manager told Globo Esporte.
“Perhaps he lacked consistency in being at his peak. For me, only Messi is above Ronaldinho because of the consistency of the last few years.
“Messi is the best in history, but Ronaldinho is with the best. The rest follow.
“He [Ronaldinho] is with the best – with Ronaldo, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, that group.”
Ronaldinho was an incredible player during his peak at the Camp Nou and twice won the World Footballer of the Year award during his stay there.
