"Ronaldo was able to match Messi without the same natural talent"

BeSoccer 2 months ago 3.7k |

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Rodri believes Messi is the best player in football history. Screenshot/Antena3

Manchester City and Spanish national team player and new Ballon d'Or 2024 winner, Rodri Hernandez, attended the ‘Antena 3’ programme ‘El Hormiguero’. The midfielder admitted that Leo Messi is the best footballer in history, although he stressed that Cristiano was on a par with him, although without surpassing him.

Rodrigo Hernandez is still making headlines weeks after winning the Ballon d'Or award. The Manchester City midfielder, who sidelined with a serious knee injury, went on the ‘Antena 3’ show, ‘El Hormiguero’, and spoke about his great moment as a footballer.

He explained how he experienced the moment: "I didn't know anything until the envelope was opened. I had 500-600 messages because of the injury and after winning it there were hundreds and hundreds more. Iniesta's message appeared among so many and I replied to that one. That we only had one Ballon d'Or in Spain... I wanted to pay tribute to all those who deserved it and didn't win it, but many lived alongside Messi and Cristiano".

The Spaniard also weighed in on the best player of all time: "I have no doubt, Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo was able to match Lionel Messi without the same natural talent, but as players who faced them both, we know the difference. With Cristiano, we didn't want him to enter the box because he was deadly there. But with Messi, he would be dangerous with getting the ball anywhere on the pitch."

"Messi would get the ball and you'd say: ‘Danger’. When I started to play against him, I would try to take the ball away from him and he would dodge you like heifers. The feeling I had was that something bad was going to happen," he added.

He also claimed that Spain deserved more Ballon d'Or awards in its golden era: "In my opinion, Spain has had one of the best moments in the history of football. That we only had one Ballon d'Or was curious. That this golden generation didn't have an award was unfair and I wanted to pay tribute to them.