Deco’s reticence to favor either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi shows a sincere appreciation for the contributions that both players have made to the game, in addition to being a diplomatic move.
The Portuguese highlighted in an interview with FourFourTwo the uniqueness of each player’s development and path on the pitch.
Deco’s take on Messi and Ronaldo
“Come on! They’re two different players. Cristiano was a pure winger in those early days – he used to get the ball and only think about dribbling past his opponents. He grew a lot as a player, becoming the competitive beast we’ve seen for so long. He has always been keen to develop in every way possible. Messi has always been a natural talent.”
“He has adapted his game over time, but his way of moving has always been the same, so it’s hard to choose between one and the other.” Deco said, emphasizing the evolution and natural abilities that characterize the careers of Messi and Ronaldo.
Ageless players
Both legends are still at the top of their games, with Messi mezmerizing fans in the US for Inter Miami and Ronaldo still playing at a high level in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, despite being 39 years old.
The way that Deco imagines a perfect scenario in which both stars are on the same squad captivates the interest of people all over the world. “The ideal world would be to have both in my team – with them, you just pass them the ball and the rest is done!” Deco mused.
