Messi has more individual awards, but Ronaldo is more of a team player: Louis van Gaal
Former Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal has commented on the GOAT debate between Lionel Messi vs Criano Ronaldo saying Messi has more individual awards, but Ronaldo is more of a team player.
“And the big question, Messi or Criano? The best players of this period are Messi and Criano Ronaldo. Choosing between them is difficult. Ronaldo has more results than Messi in titles. Messi has more individual awards, but Ronaldo is more of a team player. So you have to choose, I’m more of a team coach than an individual player. Messi may be the best football player, but you have to play as a team,” Gaal told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
Gaal’s comments hogged attention after both Messi and Ronaldo touched different milestones in their international careers after their respective matches on Thursday. Messi-led Argentina beat Panama in their first home game after winning 2022 World Cup and Ronaldo’s Portugal beat Liechtenstein 4-0.
On Thursday, Messi scored the 800th goal of his professional career and he is now one short of the 100-goal mark for the national squad. The Argentine became the second-ever player to reach 800 goals and Ronaldo, who holds the all-time record for career goals (830), is the only other player that has reached 800 goals.
On the other hand, Portugal superstar Ronaldo scored two brilliant goals against Liechtenstein on Thursday. Ronaldo celebrated his 197th cap, surpassing Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa, with a double as he returned to the starting line-up for their Group J qualifier at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
