Roberto Carlos Reveals Why Cristiano Ronaldo Beats Lionel Messi as a Player

Legendary Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos has stated that Lionel Messi is not as good a player as Cristiano Ronaldo.

There is no denying that both Ronaldo and Messi are highly skilled and successful athletes, having achieved numerous records and accolades in their careers. However, the question of who deserves the title of "Greatest of All Time" still remains.

Despite both players entering the latter stages of their careers, the debate over who is the superior player between Ronaldo and his long-standing rival remains ongoing and divisive.

Roberto Carlos, who was recognized for his unwavering dedication to training and his craft, has shared his opinion on the matter, leaning towards Ronaldo as the Greatest of All Time in the ongoing debate.

"These days, when you talk about football, you talk about Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo. Cristiano has worked to improve" Carlos told Fox Sports in 2017 as quoted by Sportskeeda.

"When you talk about the Ballon d'Or or any other prize, it's not just any person who votes, it's people who know football, who follow the stats of the players and pick the best in the world.

 Given Roberto Carlos' famous quote, "Football is my life, training is my passion," it is not surprising that he favors Ronaldo over Messi, owing to the former's commitment and diligence towards training.

"I watch him train every day and the way he works is exciting. He wants to improve every day. That's the difference with Messi. Leo is a phenomenon, we never talk about Neymar... but that side of Cristiano, of training, professionalism, focus, motivation, success...Cristiano has an advantage over all the others."

 At the age of 38, Ronaldo is still going strong, albeit in the Middle East, playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. He has managed to score 12 goals in 12 league matches thus far. Meanwhile, Messi is also continuing to showcase his skills as he weaves his magic for Paris Saint-Germain.