Miralem Pjanic, the renowned Bosnian midfielder, has added a new chapter to the ongoing debate of “who was better” between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from the perspective of a teammate who played with both. And of course, it sparked controversy. Pjanic, 33 years old and currently playing in the Middle East for Sharjah FC in the United Arab Emirates, has shared the dressing room with both players during his stints at FC Barcelona and Juventus.
In fact, Cristiano Ronaldo, who won two Serie A titles, two Supercoppa Italiana, and a Coppa Italia during his trophy-filled three years in Turin, regularly played alongside Pjanic. With that being said, Pjanic believes that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player he has played with out of the two.
“I talk a lot with Cristiano Ronaldo. I have many memories with him, he is a great footballer. He is the best player I have played with. He is among the two or three strongest players in history,” Pjanic said to O Jogo. However, Pjanic later retracted his previous statement and clarified that he “had more fun” playing with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward.
“I was lucky to play with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and it’s difficult to say who is stronger,” he added. “However, I had more fun with Ronaldo than with Messi.” It is known that Pjanic’s time at Barcelona was bitter, with coach Ronald Koeman relegating him to the bench for most of the time.
Another opinion: Luka Modric
On the topic of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has played with and against both players, but one stands out among the rest. For six years, Modric played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu stadium, where they won numerous trophies together.
In fact, earlier this year, the Croatian named Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player he has played with. “The most special thing about Cristiano Ronaldo? His work ethic,” Modric said in an interview with Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, “Presents FIVE.”
“He always wants more and more. He is never satisfied with what he does. This is amazing. The demand he put on himself and the team was incredible.” Modric added, “I think everyone will agree that Cristiano was one of the best, if not the best player for Real Madrid. In terms of goals scored, titles, individual records, team trophies, he was very influential. He was a leader on and off the field. It was a pleasure to play with him all these years and win so many trophies together.”
It is clear that Modric is a big fan of his former teammate, who has five Ballon d’Or awards to his name. However, the former Dinamo Zagreb and Spurs midfielder named Lionel Messi as the greatest of all time, in what is understood as a “total praise.”
This came shortly after Croatia was defeated by Argentina in one of the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The humble Modric spoke about his opponent before backing him to win the tournament. “I hope he wins this World Cup, he is the best player in history and he deserves it. He is playing a great World Cup, showing quality and greatness in every game.” Cristiano and Messi continue to provoke contrasting opinions, especially among those who played with them.
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How did Miralem Pjanic’s personal experiences with Ronaldo and Messi influence his opinion on who is the better player
Miralem Pjanic, the well-known Bosnian midfielder, recently waded into the ongoing debate about who is the better player between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. As a teammate who has played with both players during his time at FC Barcelona and Juventus, Pjanic’s perspective carries weight. Currently playing for Sharjah FC in the United Arab Emirates, Pjanic had regular opportunities to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo during their time in Turin, where Ronaldo achieved considerable success.
Pjanic’s opinion is clear – he considers Cristiano Ronaldo to be the best player he has played with out of the two superstars. “I have many memories with Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a great footballer and the best player I have played with. He is among the two or three strongest players in history,” Pjanic stated in an interview with O Jogo.
However, it seems that Pjanic later revised his initial statement and clarified that he “had more fun” playing alongside the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward. He acknowledges the difficulty of choosing between Ronaldo and Messi, both exceptional players, but ultimately, his personal preference leans towards Ronaldo.
Pjanic’s time at Barcelona was not as enjoyable, with coach Ronald Koeman frequently relegating him to the bench. Nevertheless, playing alongside Messi and Ronaldo provided Pjanic with invaluable experiences and insights into the abilities of these two footballing legends.
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“I can’t wait to hear the insights from these top players! The debate between Messi and Ronaldo has always been intense.”