Real Madrid legend Guti was not happy with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2011 and highlighted the key reason why Lionel Messi was better. He claimed that the Portuguese superstar was not turning up in big games like the Argentine, and that was the main difference between the two.
Speaking to the media in 2011, Guti stated that the best players always perform in high-level matches. He did not think that the current Al Nassr star was doing enough at Real Madrid.
He said via Daily Mirror:
“Cristiano is a great player. He’s decisive in many games, but in the big games he isn’t up to the task, unlike Messi, who has shown he is. The very best players are the ones who work in the highest-level matches.”
The comments from Guti came just months before he announced his retirement. He left Real Madrid in 2010, after playing 25 matches with Cristiano Ronaldo at the club and combining for three goals – all scored by the Portuguese.
Guti has always picked Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo
Guti spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in 2020 and once again admitted that he preferred the Argentine over his former teammate. He claimed that the current Inter Miami star always turned up when he was on the pitch.
Guti said via GOAL:
“I only know one player who has such a beastly success in every game. And it is Messi. Every time he goes out to the field something happens. The others have many ups and downs.”
“It is true that I recently tweeted that I chose Messi, but I value highly what Cristiano has done. He is a great player. Messi has more talent, Cristiano is more of a goalscorer, more ambition, he is a self-made player. It is incredible that in the era of Messi, he has been able to win five Ballons d’Or. He has been massively important, as he showed at Real Madrid. He has been an important factor, above all for his goalscoring productivity. Especially in big games. Real Madrid have missed Ronaldo,” he added.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have admitted that they are close to retirement. Both players have hinted that they might call it time in the next few years, and have already left European football – the former Real Madrid star players for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while the Barcelona legend plays for Inter Miami in MLS.