Gianluigi Buffon, a legend in the history of Juventus and the Italian national team, has once again addressed one of the biggest debates in modern football - the comparison between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He didn't engage the two stars in a simple "who's the best" debate; instead, he explained their role and influence on the field from different angles.
Buffon emphasized that these two are not players of the same mold - they speak football in different "languages." Therefore, comparing them solely to goals or trophies doesn't always provide a realistic picture.
Messi is the maestro who builds the game from behind
According to Buffon, Messi is multifunctional, meaning he simultaneously starts the attack and determines its direction. In many cases, he "launches" attacks from the back, drives the team forward with the subtle technique characteristic of playmakers, speed in field reading and decision-making.
Fans often see Messi's "magic" in the goal, but the point Buffon wants to make is this: Messi creates the very process before the goal - he starts the attack, accelerates it, opens it.
Ronaldo - the decisive killer in the penalty area
Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Buffon, became a goalkeeper of a completely different level in the penalty area, especially as he grew older. He's no longer focused on running long distances from the wing, performing consecutive feints, "spinning" the opponent underfoot, or constantly decorating the game with long strikes.
The key word here is energy saving. Ronaldo will now focus his energy more on the crucial point, namely choosing a decisive shot and position within the penalty area. The result is simple: he "creates" a goal in that area, meaning he maximizes the benefit from the situation.
Two stars, two missions
Buffon's point, in short, is:
- Messi is the organizer and manager of the game.
- Ronaldo is the one who ends the matter at the decisive moment.
That's why it's difficult to evaluate them on the same line: one drives the collective mechanism, while the other makes the final judgment. And the most interesting thing for fans is this - football isn't the same, and greatness appears different.
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