LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Former Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo believes Lionel Messi’s style of play is better suited to the latter stages of a footballer’s career than Cristiano Ronaldo’s, stressing that comparing the two at their current ages is difficult because of their different roles on the pitch.
Pirlo, who played alongside Ronaldo at Juventus and faced Messi on several occasions, said the pair now influence matches in different ways.
“You cannot compare Ronaldo and Messi at this stage of their careers because of how and where they play,” Pirlo said.
“Messi has always been a playmaker who can operate across the attacking line, and his profile allows him to influence games through both goals and assists.”
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The 2006 World Cup winner noted that Ronaldo’s role has evolved significantly over the years.
“Ronaldo was an explosive winger in his younger years, creating and scoring in equal measure. Later, he became a permanent striker, which naturally reduced his involvement in build-up play,” he said.
According to Pirlo, Messi’s ability to drop deeper and dictate play gives him an advantage as he gets older.
“Today, Messi can still dictate games from deeper areas, while Ronaldo’s main responsibility is finishing chances,” he said.
“Defenders focus heavily on denying him space because they know how dangerous he is in front of goal. That is why, at this age, football tends to favour Messi’s style more than Ronaldo’s.”
Pirlo maintained that both players continue to perform at the highest level despite approaching the end of their careers, with each adapting his game in different ways.
