The longstanding debate of all-time greatest footballer has been revived with a football icon, Raul Gonzales Blanco openly citing Lionel Messi as the best footballer he had ever witnessed. The former Real Madrid and Spain forward ranked Messi above Cristiano Ronaldo and other icons of the modern times.
In an interview with EDYYN, Raul looked back at his experiences of playing with some of the most renowned players in the history of football. The assessment is especially important given his career at Real Madrid where he was sharing his dressing room with some of the greatest talents in soccer history including Zinedine Zidane, Luuis Figo, Ronaldo Nazairo and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Raùl has been fortunate to have played with such great players. “But for me, Messi is the best. He is quite unlike the other ones.
Raúl pointed to the fact that the remarkable nature of Messi is that he makes the amazing look simple. He wrote of the Argentine forward as an athlete who makes the impossible look easy to do, he usually creates the impression of free-and-easy football that resembles street football.
What other people would have thought impossible he does instinctively, Raul explained. He does this as though it is a game with his peers.
Raul is one of the most renowned players in Real Madrid and his compliment of Messi is remarkable considering the long-time rivalry of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Raual played 714 games in which he scored 323 goals in Los Blancos and is an admirable figure in Spanish football.
Messi and Ronaldo have become a generation and have played on the top tier almost 20 years winning Ballon dOr, league, and champions leagues. Although the argument of the best is in limbo, these words by Raul showcase the special footballing flair possessed by Messi.
The two stars are active today, as Messi has signed with Inter Miami until 2028, and Ronaldo has signed with Al-Nassr until June 2027.
