Diego Simeone explains key difference between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone believes Cristiano Ronaldo is more able to get the best out of “normal players” than Lionel Messi.

After Argentina’s humbling 3-0 loss to Croatia at this summer’s World Cup the two-time Europa League-winning coach was heard saying that he’d prefer Ronaldo playing for the Albiceleste.

However, the 48-year-old has since clarified his comments, suggesting his compatriot Messi – who he acknowledges as the greater player – comes alive when surrounded by like-minded footballers.

“If I had to choose between Messi and Ronaldo then most likely I would choose Messi,” he told reporters, via Goal.

“Yes I said [Ronaldo] on the video, but the conversation was between me and [Atleti assistant] German Burgos, talking about football as everyone talks about it.

“When I talked about Messi and Ronaldo it wasn’t from the perspective of who is the best in the world.

“I just meant that if you have the chance to sign one of them for a normal club, with normal players, Ronaldo would probably fit in better.

“But with Messi, surrounded by great players, Messi is better than Ronaldo.”

Ronaldo vs Messi

The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has enthralled football supporters in the 21st century as we are undoubtedly watching two modern greats.

Both since 2009 until this summer were their respective club’s standard-bearer at Real Madrid and Barcelona, arguably the two biggest clubs in world football.

Ronaldo, after joining from Manchester United, would go on to eventually become Los Blancos’ all-time leading goalscorer having registered 450 goals across 438 matches and Messi is the equivalent for Barça: 552 in 637 appearances.

To date, the pair have faced each other on 35 occasions, with Messi helping his side win 16 of those times and Ronaldo on 10.

When it comes to goals scored in those games, the ratio is 22-19 in Messi’s favour.

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