"Everyone says Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi" - When Gennaro Gattuso named Real Madrid star as player he would have 'loved' to play with

Former Italian World Cup-winning midfielder Gennaro Gattuso once said that he would have liked to play with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric while acknowledging Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's greatness.

Ronaldo and Messi are widely regarded as two of the best players to have graced the beautiful game and are still going strong despite approaching 40, scoring over 800 times each for club and country.

While Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi no longer play in Europe, Modric continues to play for Los Blancos, with the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner arriving from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2012.

Gattuso, the current manager of Hajduk Split, told UEFA YouTube channel (via Allfootballapp) in October 2018 about why he would have loved to play with Modric:

“Everyone says Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, but I’d have loved to play with Luka Modric. I think he’s an incredible player, really strong mentally and a pure footballer."

The AC Milan Hall of Famer also took the name of Paul Pogba:

“From the current era, I’d like to come up against Paul Pogba. Another player I like is Matuidi. It seems like he never stops running, he’s all over you.

“He wins back possession and makes tackles incredibly well. Robert De Niro, I think. Looking at how I talk and gesticulate, as well as my physical movements and facial expressions.

Gattuso - a former AC Milan boss - joined Croatian outfit Hajduk this summer, where his team are atop the league table.

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How have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fared this season?

Lionel Messi (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (centre)

Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have made good starts to the season. Al-Nassr striker Ronaldo has started the campaign on a tear, registering eight goals and three assists in nine games across competitions.

Impressively, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored in all but one outing. Most of his goal contributions - five goals and two assists in six games - have come in the Saudi Pro League, where Stefano Pioli's side are third, four points off leaders Al-Hilal.

Meanwhile, Messi has endured an injury-plagued first full campaign with Inter Miami. However, he won his second title with the club, having arrived last summer on a free transfer. The Herons won the Supporters' Shield for topping the MLS regular-season points table, with Messi contributing 17 goals and 10 assists in 18 games.

It was the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's record extending 46th title with club and country, having won the 2024 Copa America with Argentina in the summer. Messi has 19 goals and 12 assists in 21 games across competitions for the season.