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May 20, 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s argument has defined football for over a decade. Fans are divided, and their preference for either player often reflects how they view the game. It’s a matter of taste—what each person values most in a footballer.
Messi now enjoys a quieter life in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami. At the same time, Ronaldo continues to captivate audiences in Saudi Arabia at Al Nassr. Yet, the question of who is genuinely the best persists and likely always will.
However, the opinions of those who have played alongside both football legends offer unique insight. Very few players can say they’ve shared the pitch with both Messi and Ronaldo, and one of those rare individuals is Wolverhampton Wanderers and Spain midfielder Pablo Sarabia.
At 32, Sarabia has experienced football at the highest level. After joining Wolves in 2023, he’s impacted the Premier League, showcasing his skill and leadership. His career includes replacing Ronaldo during his Real Madrid debut and being essential to Messi’s supporting cast at Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Sarabia shared his perspective on the debate, offering rare insight from someone fortunate enough to play alongside Messi and Ronaldo.
“It’s amazing because it’s a dream to play with these players. [Messi or Ronaldo] is a very difficult question. For me, Ronaldo is the best player in the world. It’s Cristiano because his mindset is totally incredible.”
He then added: “I learned a lot because when you’re training with these [level of] team-mates, it’s incredible. The goals and the assists- it’s essential to try to learn at this moment and in training every day.”
Born in Madrid, Sarabia enrolled in the esteemed Real Madrid youth system at twelve. He debuted his Castilla in January 2010 and gained recognition as a future talent. Later that year, he was given his first chance to play for the first team when he came on as a substitute in a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Auxerre, taking the place of Ronaldo, who had scored Real Madrid’s second goal. In contrast, Karim Benzema had scored a hattrick.
Following the game, Sarabia told the Real Madrid website how much Ronaldo’s support meant to him: “Debuting was incredible. Cristiano and the entire coaching staff wished me good luck. When I took the pitch, it was like any other match.”
“My debut is a byproduct of hard work by the youth team. I have worked alongside Alvaro Morata for many years, and we came out of the same school. When we get our chance, we cannot let such an opportunity slip through our fingers.”
The Spaniard moved to Getafe the following summer and then to Sevilla, where he became one of La Liga’s top young talents. It was his only senior appearance in Real Madrid’s white uniform.
Even though Sarabia didn’t play much, he was impressed by Ronaldo’s work ethic and standards during training, which have stuck with him throughout his career.
“Physically, he is incredible,” Sarabia revealed, “because it seems that every day he is striving to be the best. That is an incredible quality. One that has led him to where he is now. Without that characteristic, [Ronaldo] would not be there for sure.”
Sarabia left Sevilla in 2019 after a successful stint there to join PSG. Two years later, Messi arrived in Paris after La Liga regulations prevented Barcelona from renewing the Argentinian’s lucrative contract. It is unlikely that Sarabia would have expected Messi, who was at Barcelona at the time, to accompany him to the French capital.
Even though he didn’t have the huge impact that many had anticipated—winning just two Ligue 1 titles before leaving for Miami—working with a player that Sarabia clearly admired and who had a similar playing style was still an exciting experience for him.
Sarabia highlighted his problem-solving skills and productivity when describing the Argentine’s advantages. Still, he clarified who he thought would win the most significant debate ever.
“With Messi, everyone knows his capacity – the ability to score, to find the solution.
“Yes, Leo [Messi] is indeed supernatural because he has pure skill from another planet, but Cristiano [Ronaldo] is an example of pure willpower.”
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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