Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka has praised Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for their extraordinary achievements on the football pitch, emphasizing their ongoing impact in the sport. The Swiss player highlighted the legendary rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, recognizing both as exceptional talents who stand apart from their peers.
Ronaldo and Messi are often regarded as two of the greatest footballers ever, having scored an astounding 938 and 865 goals respectively for club and country. Together, they have amassed an unparalleled collection of individual awards and major trophies, including a combined total of 13 Ballon d’Or titles, with Messi owning eight of those.
Xhaka’s Admiration After Facing Ronaldo in UEFA Nations League 2019
Following Switzerland’s 3-1 defeat to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League semifinal in Porto in June 2019, where Ronaldo scored all three goals, Xhaka expressed deep admiration for the striker‘s abilities. He praised Ronaldo’s instinctive understanding of the game and his status as one of the world’s top players.
“It’s unbelievable what a player he is,” Xhaka said (as per One Football.) “It’s not for nothing that he’s one of the best players in the world. He’s special because he knows always where you have to go and to be.”
Xhaka Weighs in on the GOAT Debate: Celebrating Both Legends
When questioned about the ongoing debate over who is the greatest of all time between Messi and Ronaldo, Xhaka refused to choose a definitive winner, instead praising both players‘ unique greatness and longevity in professional football.
“One of them (isn’t the best in the world). In my opinion, you have two of them. They are not in this world. Those two are clear of the rest. If you play at 34 on this level you deserve a lot of respect.”
“He shows in all the games – international and with Juventus – that he has unbelievable quality. It’s difficult to stop him and he showed up not in a good moment for us.”
International Performances of Messi and Ronaldo in 2025
In 2025, Lionel Messi featured once for Argentina, sitting out matches against Uruguay and Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL qualifiers. He made his return during the 1-0 victory over Chile, as Argentina had already secured qualification for the upcoming World Cup hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a productive year representing Portugal. Despite Portugal’s narrow 1-0 loss in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final first leg against Denmark where Ronaldo did not score, he found the net in the subsequent three matches. This included scoring in the final shootout against Spain, helping Portugal claim the competition title and become the first team to win the Nations League multiple times.
The Lasting Influence of Two Football Icons
Granit Xhaka’s recognition of both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as unmatched athletes reflects how their rivalry has shaped modern football. As Ronaldo continues his career with Al-Nassr and Messi leads Argentina towards World Cup glory, their legacies inspire players and fans worldwide. Their ability to perform consistently at the highest levels deep into their 30s not only underlines their exceptional talent but also sets a benchmark difficult for future generations to surpass.