Regarding the eternal debate of who is the best soccer player in the world, two names always dominate the conversation: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. These two footballing icons have been the subject of much debate among fans, pundits, and players alike. And now, Barcelona legend Gerard Pique has weighed in on the topic, offering his thoughts on the matter. Interestingly, he also claimed to have predicted something about Messi back in his Manchester United days.

Pique is one of the few with the privilege of playing alongside both players. He witnessed Ronaldo’s rise to stardom during his time at Manchester United, where the Portuguese striker showcased his immense talent and potential. Pique also had a front-row seat to Messi’s dominance at Barcelona, where the Argentine forward mesmerized the soccer world with his sublime skills and unrivaled creativity.

Who did Gerard Pique choose- Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?

Recently, the World Cup winner sat down in an interview with Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand. He was then posed with the difficult question of choosing between Messi and Ronaldo. Pique took a trip down memory lane, recalling a moment from his teen days. “The thing is that I played with Messi since 13 until 17 before I joined Manchester United, so I knew the guy,” Pique remembered.

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He further reminisced, “I remember that I was at Manchester United at the time that Messi played the first game with the first team”. He recalled a conversation he had with teammate Floribert N’Galula. Then he confidently proclaimed that “this guy (Messi) will be the best player in the world”. N’Galula shut down this claim at the time, but Pique didn’t back off. “I said, listen, he is the best,” the Spaniard added.

Returning to Ferdinand’s question, Pique revealed his choice. Despite acknowledging Ronaldo’s incredible talent, Pique made it clear that Messi stands in a league of his own. In his words: “I would say that Cristiano is an amazing player. I mean they are in the same level but maybe Leo has a little bit more the talent of being magical”.

The soccer legend concluded, “Cristiano is all about work and being the best in the gym, on the pitch, trying to overtake everyone as in goals, assist in everything. But Leo is.. it’s like another world for me, it’s not of this world”. Both players have dominated the sport for over a decade, and their individual statistics are staggering.

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However, Pique’s experiences playing alongside Ronaldo and witnessing Messi’s evolution provide a unique insight into the debate. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments!

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