Di Maria Hails Ronaldos Professionalism, Names Messi as Football’s Greatest Player

Doing the rounds in football media, Angel Di Maria has shared his honest views on the long running debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Speaking about his time at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2014, Di Maria praised Ronaldo’s professionalism, calling him number one by far in terms of discipline, work ethic, and consistency. He highlighted how Ronaldo’s constant effort to stay at the top helped him win five Ballon d’Or awards, even while competing in Messi’s era.

However, despite admiring Ronaldo’s dedication, Di Maria still considers Messi the greatest of all time. According to him, Messi combines natural talent with ease, describing his ability as a gift from God. He pointed out that while Ronaldo achieved greatness through hard work, Messi made brilliance look effortless, which sets him apart.

At 37, Di Maria has returned to Rosario Central and remains confident about his decision to retire from international football in 2024. He believes he completed his journey after winning major titles with Argentina, including the World Cup in 2022 and Copa America, and is now happy to watch the next generation take over.