Patrice Evra, a former star for Manchester United, has spoken out about why he favoured Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi.
Despite widespread agreement that both athletes had incredible careers, two prominent figures have maintained divergent views on who the best player of all time was.
Even though he faces criticism from Lionel Messi fans, Pele, like many other players who have played with Ronaldo, prefers the Portuguese star above the Argentine one.
He went on to say that Ronaldo’s specialness lies in his work ethic, and that although natural ability is certainly significant, it is the amount of work that an individual puts in that truly distinguishes them from the crowd.
Talent isn’t everything; what matters is if you work hard. I know Messi supporters would take offence if I claim Cristiano Ronaldo was more talented than Messi, but we must not compare the two. “But what really stands out is his work ethic,” he told Telegraph.
After Ronaldo joined Manchester United in 2006, Patrice Evra watched him develop into a world-class footballer.
The three-year club veteran was a major draw in European football and a rising figure in Portugal. Evra has played against Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, so he knows how their careers have unfolded.
Despite Messi’s extraordinary talent, the Frenchman believes that he was simply born with it. He is regarded as the greatest of his generation because he witnessed his former friend work tirelessly to become a world-class player.