Lionel Messi proving “light years” Cristiano Ronaldo comparison spot on at Inter Miami
Lionel Messi’s nine goals in six games for Inter Miami has reaffirmed in former Al-Hilal coach Emiliano Diaz’s mind that the Argentine is better than Cristiano Ronaldo by some distance
Former Al-Hilal coach Emiliano Diaz previously suggested that Lionel Messi is “light years” ahead of his great rival, Cristiano Ronaldo – and the Argentine is proving that comparison right, with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner in unstoppable form at Inter Miami.
Asked for his assessment of the pair by TyC Sports in June when Messi was linked with a free transfer to the Middle East, Diaz replied: “No, in no way, not as a footballer. There is no comparison.
“We have faced him [Ronaldo] less than three months ago and I went to see Leo at the World Cup. We are talking about light years of comparison. There is no comparison but the numbers support him, he is an animal. But at the level of quality of Leo [Messi] there is no comparison.”
Messi went on to turn down the obscene riches in Saudi worth billions in favour of a transfer to Inter Miami, where he and his family already feel at home. The Argentine, 36, alongside old Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, is on the cusp of winning the MLS franchise its first piece of silverware.
Messi has completely transformed the fortunes of Inter Miami. And whilst Ronaldo has also enjoyed success in Saudi Arabia, the enormous impact of the Argentine has gone some way to proving that at this stage of their careers he is a class above his old rival.
Inter Miami will contest the Leagues Cup final against Nashville on Saturday. And the team are on a six-game win streak with Messi in the team, beating Cruz Azul, Atlanta United, Orlando City, FC Dallas, Charlotte, and Philadelphia on their way to the final, with the football legend scoring nine and assisting one.
Once this weekend’s Cup final is done and dusted, attention will then turn toward Inter Miami’s MLS Eastern Conference campaign, which so far, has been a disaster. The Sunshine State-based franchise are sat bottom of the table and 12 points off the playoffs with 12 games to go.
But after beating five of their MLS competitors in the Leagues Cup, Messi and Co will fancy their chances at eating into the points deficit. “What’s happened with the addition of Messi and obviously some other really special players is tremendous for our league, the visibility of our players, our teams,” Nashville general manager Mike Jacobs said ahead of the final.
“Nashville SC will play in front of more people than in our club’s history and that wouldn’t have happened this weekend had Messi not come to our league. So I think that’s tremendous.”
