When asked whether he would want to play with Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin De Bruyne had a cool response.
De Bruyne, one of the best players of his generation, offered a straightforward justification for why he would gain more from collaborating with Ronaldo, believing that Messi would fill the same role as a “playmaker” as him.
The Belgian international stated he would prefer to play with the former Manchester United superstar because he is more of a “typical striker” and has faced off against both players at the club level and internationally.
De Bruyne responded, “I would definitely pick Ronaldo because he’s more of a traditional striker.
Messi is still a playmaker more so.
“Give me a striker; I’m a playmaker.”
De Bruyne created havoc while playing alongside Erling Haaland, who scored an astounding 52 goals in his rookie season at Manchester City. De Bruyne thrives off having that focal point to play off.
With a combined 79 titles, 12 Ballon d’Or awards, and an absurd number of goals scored, Messi and Ronaldo have dominated football for more than 15 years.
They had a great rivalry that pushed one another to improve, but since they are no longer competing in Europe in their latter years, Ronaldo thinks their feud has died down.
In a recent press conference, Ronaldo stated, “I don’t see things like that, the rivalry is over.
“It was good, and the audience enjoyed it. It’s not necessary for fans of Cristiano Ronaldo to despise Lionel Messi, and vice versa. We did well, and we contributed to changing football history. The most significant factor is that we are regarded with respect around the world.
“Regardless of the fact that I play outside of Europe, he has followed his path and I have followed mine.
“From what I can see, he and I have both been doing well. Although the legacy endures, I don’t perceive the rivalry in that way. It had been 15 years since we last shared a stage. We’ve never shared a meal together, so I can’t say we’re buddies, but we respect each other as coworkers in our own fields.