Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has tried to put an end to the debate surrounding the best player between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by claiming that Messi is far superior than any other player.
He has even claimed that ‘those who know their stuff’ will always back his claim. Ronaldo is the overwhelming favourite to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or award in the next few months. This would take his tally to four – one behind leader Messi. Ronaldo has managed to win the Champions League with Real Madrid, but the crowning achievement came a few weeks later as he lifted the European Championship with Portugal.
Messi, in contrast, has ended up unsuccessful on almost all fronts in the summer. The biggest disappointment would be losing the Copa America final yet again to Chile. Following this disappointment, the Barcelona superstar announced his retirement from international football. Xavi, though, says that Messi is far superior than anybody who has played the game or continues to play. The record is achieved by Messi speaks for itself, according to the midfielder who now plays for Al-Sadd in the Middle East. In his stellar career, the little Argentine superstar has managed to win four Champions League titles, eight La Liga trophies, and three Club World Cup medals apart from several others.
“For me, there is no heir to Messi. There will never be one. There will be very good footballers, but nobody at Messi’s level.To be at the top for so many years, winning so many individual and team trophies, will be impossible to surmount.In the future, everything will be more equal amongst the best players. Though now they try to sell the story of the battle between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, those of us who know football, know there is no comparison,” said Xavi.