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‘NO CONTROVERSY, MESSI IS BETTER THAN RONALDO, SAYS DAVID BECKHAM

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Former Manchester player and legend, David Beckham has weighed in on the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo debate – and, according to British Daily Mail, believes that the Barcelona talisman is the greatest player in the world.

Beckham insists that both superstars are a level above the rest of the sport, but views Messi as also being in a class of his own.

Beckham, who came up against Messi during his brief stint at Paris Saint-Germain, insists it is ‘impossible’ that any player comes close to matching the diminutive Argentine’s talent. 

Beckham recalled his encounter against Messi for PSG in their 2013 Champions League clash

The former Real Madrid star, now the president at Inter Miami, enjoyed a trophy-laden career of his own – having won the Premier League, Champions League and La Liga among a host of others.  

But both Messi and Ronaldo have been leading at the forefront for over a decade in Europe, and hold a sensational 11 Ballon d’Ors between them. 

Beckham was even rumoured to have approach Messi with a view to a sensational switch for his newly-founded MLS team. 

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The Times reported that the former England captain was hopeful of securing a number of elite players to his club, with Messi seen as the ultimate statement. 

The report stated that there is a belief that a MLS swoop for Messi may be viable in two years’ time, with Inter Miami a potential destination. 

Despite the latter’s stellar form across his spells at United, Real and Juventus, Beckham shared his belief that Messi stands at the pinnacle of the game.

‘He [Messi] is alone in his class as a player, it is impossible that there is another like him,’ Beckham told Argentine publication Telam.

‘He, like Cristiano Ronaldo, who is not at his level, are both above the rest.’

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And having spoken highly about the 32-year-old Messi, Beckham also recalled his encounter on the field against the wing wizard in the 2013 Champions League.

PSG and Barcelona clashed at the quarter-final stage, with the Parisians knocked out of the competition on away goals.

The 44-year-old added: ‘We were leading before Messi came in, and once he came in, Barcelona scored. 

‘Although I enjoyed playing at that level at my age, I do not like to lose. Our team played well. In both matches, we did things we should be proud of.

‘We didn’t lose against Barcelona, and that is something that should motivate us.’

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Despite the crushing European disappointment, Beckham rounded off his glittering playing days with a Ligue 1 winners’ medal at the end of the campaign. 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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