Angel Di Maria has explained why he puts Lionel Messi ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in football’s greatest-player debate.
Di Maria’s view carries weight because he is not judging from a distance. After all, he has shared dressing rooms, attacks and big moments with both players.
That is why his answer matters. He respects Ronaldo’s work, but sees Messi’s gift as something more natural.
Angel Di Maria says Lionel Messi’s natural talent separates him from Cristiano Ronaldo
Speaking in a recent Ballon d’Or interview, Di Maria explained how he views the Messi-Ronaldo debate after playing with both stars.
“For me, they’re the two best in history in this era, aren’t they? Then there’s Diego, too… But between the two of them, the difference is what one has won and what the other has won,” Di Maria said.
He added, “For me, Leo is better than Cristiano because he has a natural talent; he doesn’t have to work constantly to match or equal someone else.”
Di Maria was not taking anything away from Ronaldo. He has seen up close how much the Portuguese star’s game is built on discipline, hunger and constant work.
But in his view, Messi’s brilliance feels more instinctive. The Argentine does not look like he is chasing someone else’s level; he looks like the level was already inside him.
Angel Di Maria’s Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo verdict comes from shared history
Di Maria also made it clear that his opinion comes from experience with both players, not just loyalty to Argentina.
“I had the best relationship with both of them, and I also assisted both of them. It was something unique,” Di Maria continued.
“The best thing that could have happened to me was playing with two people who have been competing for the Ballon d’Or over the last 20 years,” he concluded.
That history makes his verdict more interesting. Di Maria played with Ronaldo at Real Madrid and with Messi for Argentina, meaning he saw both standards from inside elite teams.
With Ronaldo, he saw the movement, finishing and obsession that made him one of the greatest scorers football has known. With Messi, he saw the vision, timing, and natural control that made the game bend around him.
For Di Maria, the debate is not about disrespecting Ronaldo. It is about recognizing that Messi’s greatness feels more effortless, and that is why he puts Leo first.
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