"He was my idol" - When Bukayo Saka made his pick between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka once revealed his pick in the age-old debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The two legends are considered two of the greatest players to grace the beautiful game.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated football over the last two decades, winning multiple individual accolades and group titles. The duo have 13 Ballons d'Or together, with Messi having a record eight and Ronaldo five. Pundits and fans have engaged in the debate of who is the better footballer for years, with both icons having big admirers.

In a March 2024 interview on the Men in Blazers podcast, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka made his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo clear, saying (via GOAL):

"Personally I can't (imagine playing for as long as Ronaldo), and that's why I have so much respect for him. Obviously, when I was younger, he was my idol, but now that I'm playing football professionally, I have even more respect for him, how he's managed to stay this disciplined and this focused and achieve everything he's achieved, so yeah he's special."

Bukayo Saka has faced Cristiano Ronaldo only thrice in his career, with one win and two losses. All three matches were Premier League fixtures between Arsenal and Manchester United during Ronaldo's second stint with the Red Devils (2021-2022). Meanwhile, Saka has never faced Lionel Messi at the club or international level.

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"It hurts to see Messi in tears" - When Cristiano Ronaldo supported Lionel Messi during his temporary international retirement in 2016

L to R: Ronaldo and Messi - Source: Getty

In a 2016 interview with Mundo Deportivo, Cristiano Ronaldo offered his support to Lionel Messi after the Argentine legend had temporarily announced his international retirement.

Messi's decision came after he lost his third consecutive final with Argentina in the 2016 Copa America. La Albiceleste lost 4-2 on penalties to Chile, as La Pulga missed a crucial penalty for his side. Shortly after the loss, Messi announced that it was his last international game, though he later changed his mind and returned to the national team.

Speaking about Messi's retirement, Cristiano Ronaldo had said (via Bleacher Report):

"Messi has taken a tough decision and people should understand. He is not accustomed to defeats and disappointments, not even finish the second. Missing a penalty does not make you a bad player. It hurts to see Messi in tears, and I hope he returns to his country, because he needs it."

Ronaldo had an exceptional 2015-16 season, winning the 2016 Euros with Portugal and the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid. He won the Ballon d'Or that year. The Portuguese legend continued to remain crucial for his country at the highest level and led them to the 2019 Nations League title.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has since then gone on to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup and consecutive Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024 with Argentina. Messi holds a record 46 trophies in his cabinet for club and country.