Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Who is the greatest football legend?
It’s a question that millions of football fans have been debating for more than a decade.
But few opinions carry more weight than that of Ezequiel Garay, who played alongside both men at different stages of his career.
Ezequiel Garay chooses Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo
Garay was asked in a recent interview with DAZN whether Cristiano Ronaldo was the best footballer he had ever played with.
“No,” was Garay’s blunt response.
When asked where Ronaldo stands, he replied: “Number two.
“Number one is Leo and Cristiano is without a doubt number two. I think they are two very different players, but the one who surprised me the most is Leo.”
“I’ve been lucky enough to play with both of them, and Leo is something else.”
Despite Messi being placed above Ronaldo in the all-time debate, Garay was keen to emphasize his admiration for the Portuguese star’s professionalism and work ethic.
About Ronaldo, he added: “To give you an example, the anecdote that Carlos Tevez always tells is true. Literally. He is the first to arrive at six in the morning and the last to leave.”
“A star. He follows his routine, his training, his physio – everything – to always arrive in the best condition.”
Garay is not the only former Real Madrid and Argentina player to enter the debate recently.
Angel Di Maria also rates Messi above Ronaldo, despite also admitting Ronaldo’s relentless work ethic was inspiring.
Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi pictured during the 2025 MLS Cup Final (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
For Ezequiel Garay, Ronaldo?
Garay was Ronaldo’s teammate at Real Madrid during the 2009/10 and 2010/11 seasons.
The defender made 31 first-team appearances for Madrid, with Ronaldo appearing in 23 of those games.
They both played in the 2011 Copa del Rey final, which Real Madrid won 1–0 against Barcelona after extra time.
When did Ezequiel Garay play with Lionel Messi?
Garay and Messi both started their youth careers at Newell’s Old Boys in their hometown of Rosario. However, Messi left the club without playing for the first team.
They would later share the field for Argentina 24 times at international level, including in the 2014 World Cup final.
Argentina lost that final 1-0 after extra time, but Garay and Messi had better luck at the 2008 Olympics, where they won gold medals together.
Ezequiel Garay calls Real Madrid “the best club in the world”
Although Garay prefers Barcelona legend Messi to Real Madrid icon Ronaldo as a player, he remains adamant that the Spanish giants are above all others as a club.
“For me it’s a club apart… a world apart,” he said. “You enter as if you are in a bubble. Real Madrid is Real Madrid, the best club in the world.”
Real Madrid has won La Liga 36 times, eight more than Barcelona. They have also won the European Cup/Champions League 15 times, compared to Barcelona’s five.
However, Barcelona finished 10 points ahead of Madrid in the 2025 La Liga calendar year table.
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