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Sergio Ramos has claimed that Lionel Messi is the best player the beautiful game has produced. The Paris Saint-Germain defender, who has had a unique opportunity to play alongside Messi's eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo, has backed his current teammate as the best player in the sport.
Speaking to PSG TV, the 36-year-old said:
“There was suffering for several years playing against Messi. I am now enjoying him. He is the best player football has ever produced.”
The quote will certainly raise some eyebrows in the football world, after Ramos and Ronaldo were teammates for almost ten seasons at Real Madrid. The pair fought some fierce battles against Messi's Barcelona, with heated moments between the players.
The Portuguese attacker eventually left the Spanish capital to join Serie A giants Juventus. A storybook return to Manchester United followed, which ended unceremoniously earlier this season when the club mutually terminated his contract.
The 38-year-old ended up joining Saudi club Al-Nassr in a massive deal worth about $200 million. Ramos, meanwhile, left the Bernabeu in 2021 and joined the Ligue 1 side on a free transfer. He was surprisingly joined by his former rival, Messi, following a shocking departure from Barcelona.
The Spaniard's comments reignite rumors that he had a troubled relationship with Ronaldo as he left Real Madrid. These rumblings took a back seat when the pair were seen having a conversation in January, as PSG took on Ronaldo's Riyadh XI in a friendly.
Sergio Ramos announces retirement from international football
Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos has announced his retirement from international football.
The 36-year-old has had a legendary career for La Furia Roja, spanning 18 years since he made his debut in 2005. He has made 180 appearances for the side, scoring 23 goals.
In an Instagram post, he said:
"The time has come. Time for me to say goodbye to the Spain national team," Ramos' statement read. "This morning, I received a call from the current Head Coach who informed me that I am not and will not be part of his plans, regardless of how I perform or what I do in my career. With a heavy heart, it's the end of the road that I hoped would stretch out further and which would end with a better taste in my mouth."
He continued:
"I honestly believe that this journey deserved to end at my own choosing or because my performances were not at a level worthy of our national team. Because age in itself is not a virtue or a defect; it's just a number that is not necessarily related to performance or ability. I admire and envy players like Modric, Messi and Pepe. Unfortunately, it won't be like that for me because football isn't always fair and football is never just football."
