Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely considered to be the greatest footballers of this generation and while there is an endless debate as to who is better, former Barcelona star Deco has suggested that Ronaldinho was better than both Messi and Ronaldo.
Deco has played with Ronaldinho and Messi for Barcelona while he has also played with Ronaldo for the Portugal national team. Messi and Ronaldo have won eight Ballon d’Or titles between them and are widely considered to be the greatest two players of this generation if not of all time.
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However, Deco speaking to Sport, said:
"Ronaldinho was more talented than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,
"When we didn't know what to do, he would create chances to score.
"[Ronaldo] was young, athletic and very competitive. Messi worked hard to do what he does now with the ball for Barca, but what Ronaldinho had was completely natural, he had a special ability. Every time we gave him the ball, he would score a different type of goal."
Ronaldinho himself has won the FIFA World Player of the year award twice in 2004 and 2005. He has also managed to win the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, a feat which is yet to be accomplished by both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo having contrasting Copa America and Euro campaigns
Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have a chance of winning an international trophy this summer with the Copa America Centenario and Euro 2016 going on. While Lionel Messi has been in stunning form for Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo has struggled to inspire a lacklustre Portugal side.
Lionel Messi’s 4 goals and 2 assists in the Copa America so far have already propelled Argentina into the semi-finals of the competition where they will be facing hosts USA. Portugal meanwhile have struggled in the group stages with 2 unflattering draws against minnows Iceland and Austria.
Ronaldo himself has had a disappointing campaign having failed to score even once so far and also missing an important penalty in the game against Austria. Argentina seem to be firing on all cylinders and they are definitely the favourites to win the Copa America Centenario this time around.
Portugal, on the other hand, have a crucial third group match against Hungary to contend with and they will need Cristiano Ronaldo to perform at his usual high standards if they are to have any chance of progressing to the next round.
