Home / Sports / Real Madrid Legend Marcelo Picks Cristiano Ronaldo Over Lionel Messi
Real Madrid Legend Marcelo Picks Cristiano Ronaldo Over Lionel Messi
18 Jul
Summary
- Marcelo witnessed both Ronaldo and Messi at their best
- Marcelo suffered a lot when facing Messi, but ultimately chose Ronaldo
- Di Maria picked Messi over Ronaldo, citing Messi's World Cup win and more Ballon d'Or awards
In a recent Twitch livestream, Real Madrid legend Marcelo revealed his preference between former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and ex-rival Lionel Messi. Marcelo, who played alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid, acknowledged that he felt very lucky to have witnessed the careers of both superstars.
Despite admitting that he "suffered a lot" when facing Messi, Marcelo ultimately chose Ronaldo as his pick. "I love Cristiano, I played with him but I love to see Messi play," Marcelo said. The Brazilian defender's comments add to the ongoing debate surrounding the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry.
Meanwhile, former Real Madrid and Juventus player Angel Di Maria, who has been teammates with both Ronaldo and Messi, offered a different perspective. In February 2025, Di Maria stated that Messi was "touched by a magic wand," pointing to the Argentine's eight Ballon d'Or awards compared to Ronaldo's five, as well as Messi's World Cup triumph with Argentina in 2022.
The Ronaldo-Messi debate continues to captivate football fans worldwide, with players and experts offering their unique insights on the two all-time greats.
