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Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammate surprised Super Eagles legend John Obi Mikel when asked to choose between the Al Nassr star and his great rival Lionel Messi
The long-running debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has divided football fans for over a decade.
Now, former Portugal international Luis Figo has offered a calm and reflective perspective that shifts the focus away from comparison and toward appreciation.
Figo refuses to compare football’s greats
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Luis Figo addressed the enduring rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with a balanced view shaped by experience.
“I don’t like to compare because someone is going to lose. I think each one made his own history in football,” Figo said.
The former Barcelona and Real Madrid star explained that constant comparisons often diminish greatness rather than properly define it, stressing that both players should be judged on their individual journeys and achievements.
Ex-Real Madrid star unwilling to cross eras
Figo went further by dismissing cross-era debates altogether, arguing that football legends belong to different moments in time.
“You don’t have to compare because everyone is important,” he added. The Portuguese icon rejected broader generational comparisons, saying: “I cannot compare Maradona with Messi and Eusebio with Cristiano Ronaldo because it’s different players, different qualities, and different moments.”
Rather than fueling endless arguments, Figo prefers admiration over rivalry. “I prefer to admire the moments and what they do or did in the history of football,” he concluded.
The Ex-Real Madrid and Barcelona star called for greater appreciation of football’s greatest icons rather than constant comparison.