Former Argentina and Real Madrid winger Ángel Di María has dismissed Cristiano Ronaldo's claim to be the greatest footballer of all time, stating that Lionel Messi is the best in history.
In an interview with Argentine outlet Infobae, Di María responded to comments made by Ronaldo earlier that month in which the Portuguese forward described himself as the most complete player to have played the game.
Di María, who is among a small group of players to have spent several seasons alongside both Ronaldo and Messi, said the statement did not surprise him. He said he played with Ronaldo for four years at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2014 and that Ronaldo had always tried to present himself as the best.
Di María said Ronaldo was unlucky to be born in the same era as Messi, whom he described as a player touched by a magic wand. He pointed to what he called the reality in the numbers to support his view.
He noted that Messi has won eight Ballon d'Or awards compared to five for Ronaldo, a difference he described as very big. He also cited Messi's international success, including winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and two Copa América titles, as factors that separate the two. He added that Messi's longevity and ability to decide games over nearly two decades confirm his status.