2022 was an eventful year for soccer. It was the last stretch of peace before things started to change in the sporting world, especially soccer. But hardly one could fathom that two of the greatest players would leave Europe to play poles apart. The competition was fierce but John Obi Mikel picked Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo for very specific reasons.

Both players left Europe at a similar stage but in totally different scenarios. After claiming to have a torrid time at PSG, Messi chose the path of silence to move to the USA. On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo chose to speak out about his spat with coach Erik ten Hag. This led to varied opinions from experts, including Mikel.

John Obi Mikel chose Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo taking a dig at the Portuguese

Even though both Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are considered to be two of the greatest, each has his own style of play. Even their achievements are different. One is a goalscorer, and the other a playmaker. But none of those things mattered to the former Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, who said that he would always choose Lionel Messi and not Ronaldo. The reason he gave was that Ronaldo had an ego and was never his favorite.

The former Nigerian star told Dubai Eye in 2022, “No, I’ve never been a Ronaldo fan, really. For me he’s a, when a player has so much ego, I don’t really get it. He has never been one of my favorite players; that’s why I really go for Messi really.”

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Mikel claimed that Ronaldo should not have given such an interview against his club, Manchester United. The Portuguese star gave a big interview to Piers Morgan complaining about the Red Devils last November. Consequently, the player’s contract was terminated, and Ronaldo had to move away from Europe.

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The two-time Premier League winner also said that it could raise doubts about him doing the same to other clubs that can resist him. However, Mikel clarified that even if he was in a tough situation, he would still get a club that was one of the best in the world to ever play.

The former Chelsea star had nothing but praise for Messi

On the contrary, Mikel showered compliments on Lionel Messi. The former Champions League winner claimed that Chelsea’s whole week went into preparing for the former Barcelona legend. The DM also mentioned that they always had two to three players against Messi, as it was impossible to defend one-on-one with him.

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Despite the passing of their rivalry, the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on the sport of football remains eternal. Even though their on-field battles may have ceased, their legacy continues to inspire and captivate fans and players alike. True soccer enthusiasts recognize the exceptional talent of both players rather than engaging in unproductive comparisons.