Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp knows how to win and his Champions League title supports that solid credential. Needless to say, the German coach also knows to spot a winner, and like everyone else, he sees Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as certified winners with the Argentine enjoying a slight advantage.
To be clear, Klopp said the two superstars are formidable footballers. When the Reds play against Juventus and Barcelona, the biggest problem posed by facing off with any of the two is how to stop them.
The German sighed that "it's almost impossible to defend," against the two giants but if he must pick who is the best, Klopp will go for the Barcelona captain, according to Metro.
"There is the small Messi who makes everything look so simple ... And I like him maybe a little bit more as a player on the pitch," Klopp was reported as saying.
On the other hand, the manager pointed out that it's hard to ignore how incredible a footballer Ronaldo is because he has the built, the skills, and the perfect approach when playing the beautiful game.
"If you could paint yourself a perfect player, it would have Ronaldo's height, he could jump and run as high or quick as Ronaldo can do. And what is then even added to that is his total attitude, it is absolutely perfect and professional, it couldn't be any better," Klopp said.
It can be summed that Messi is the best that football has at the moment, but his Portuguese rival is "an absolutely incredible player," the Reds boss said.
Klopp concluded: "It's really difficult therefore, but what both have in common is that both have left their footprints for such a long time."
While it might be hard to determine who is GOAT between Messi and Ronaldo but for the latter, his so-called rivalry with the Barcelona superstar is healthy. According to Mirror, the Juventus ace only has great respect for Messi, and the six-time Ballon d'Or winner is returning the favor.
"I really admire the career he has had so far. He has already said that he had trouble when I left the Spanish league because it is a rivalry that he appreciates. It is a good rivalry that exists in football," said Ronaldo, who has five Ballon honors to his credit.
For his part, Messi acknowledged that playing against Ronaldo, especially during the El Clasico matches, made for a football spectacle. The rivalry only highlighted how exceptional the two players are, and it was good while it lasted.
"It was nice to play against Cristiano, he made Madrid a stronger side ... Madrid would miss him, as any team would ... Any team would miss him. He scores 50 goals a season and he was the key player for them, of course, they were going to miss that," said the Argentine.
