"This one’s easy. There’s no complication" - Uruguay icon Sebastian Abreu picks favorite between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Uruguayan legend picks between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

In a recent interview, former Uruguay striker Sebastian Abreu picked between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The South American forward enjoyed a successful career for his clubs and country but never soared to the heights reached by the pair widely believed to be the best to play the sport.

In a recent interview with TNT Sports, the former Nacional, Real Sociedad, Botafogo, and River Plate striker picked his choice between Messi and Ronaldo. Abreu said via Bola VIP:

“Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? This one’s easy. There’s no complication, Messi. If I had played alongside Messi, I’d have 800 goals by now,” he joked. “But I have 400 goals, and I’m probably exaggerating. You have to enjoy Messi.”

Abreu concluded by addressing how it felt to face the Argentine star, saying:

"First, you have to enjoy facing the best player in the world.”

Sebastian Abreu only faced Messi twice in his career, losing both games with the Argentine legend scoring once.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are currently in the twilight of their legendary careers, and their abilities are sure to divide friends and family members over who the superior player is.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's football legacies

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely believed to be two of the greatest players ever to play football professionally. The pair have scored over 1800 career goals and claimed 13 Ballon d'Or titles between them.

Ronaldo began his career with Sporting Lisbon in his native Portugal before two stints with Manchester United, a legendary time with Real Madrid, and an impressive time with Juventus. The Portuguese icon now plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He is the greatest player in his nation's history, with 136 goals from 219 appearances.

Lionel Messi has represented just three clubs in his career: Barcelona, before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, and his current club, Inter Miami, joining them in 2023. He has scored 112 times in 191 appearances for his country, helping them to two Copa America titles and the FIFA World Cup.

At 37 and 40, respectively, Messi and Ronaldo are set to call time on their legendary careers that have seen them inspire millions of people across the globe. The pair are in the final months of their contracts with their Inter Miami and Al-Nassr. Messi has scored five and assisted two in seven games, while Ronaldo has scored 28 and provided four assists in 33 games.

About the author

Patrick is a European and international football journalist at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. A Business Administration graduate with a professional experience of 10 years, one of his earliest childhood memories is watching Calabar Rovers play at the U.J. Esuene Stadium with his father, with whom, he connects with, discussing the beautiful game.

Patrick’s favorite team is Manchester United for their unparallelled legacy and success in the game. He is a big admirer of Michael Carrick and his ‘smooth’ style of play back in the days. His favorite manager is Jose Mourinho, who according to him, brought a ‘swagger’ to football with his unique managerial style. Robin van Persie’s title-winning volley against Aston Villa for the 2013 PL triumph is etched in his memory forever.

Patrick always uses trusted outlets that produce accurate, balanced and fair information, and which present multiple point of views. He believes in reporting in a holistic manner for the readers’ benefit. If he could change a football rule, he would increase the number of substitutions allowed due to the high number of games played these days, to reduce injuries and so that youngsters get to show their talent as well.

When not covering football, Patrick loves reading, writing poems and short stories, and spend time with his dog Lana.

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Edited by Ankush Das