Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Ex-Man Utd ace Herrera gives verdict on Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo debate

mirror.co.uk, 26 June 2022, 14:23
Ander Herrera spent a number of years with Manchester United before Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the club, but is now a teammate of Messi at Paris Saint-Germain

Ander Herrera is well-placed to make a judgement on the Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo debate, and the former Manchester United midfielder has sided with his current teammate.

Herrera spent last season with Messi at PSG, having himself joined the French club from United back in 2019. His time at Old Trafford might not have coincided with either of Ronaldo's stints there, but he played alongside others - most notably Wayne Rooney - who knew what it was like to accompany the Portuguese star in attack.

Spain international Herrera, who turns 33 in August, has seen colleague Messi receive criticism for failing to sustain his previous highs since moving to Ligue 1. However, the former Athletic Bilbao star has taken the South American's side in one of football's longest-running debates.

Messi scored just six league goals for PSG after joining the club from Barcelona, and 11 in all competitions. It was his lowest return since his breakthrough Barcelona campaign, when the Argentine was still a teenager, but Herrera rushed to his colleague's defence.

"You are asking for 50 goals per season," Herrera told AS (via The Mail ). "From there, if he doesn't score them, people talk.

"Nor should we forget that Leo has had the all-time record in Ligue 1 - he has hit the post 10 times! If he had scored 10 more goals, it would (have) been a very good season for Leo."

Do you agree with Herrera? Have your say in the comments section

Ronaldo, like Messi, was on the move last summer. He outscored his long-time rival, netting 24 times in United colours after returning to the club he first left in 2009, but Herrera continued to bang the drum for Messi.

'For me, he is the best of all time, without any discussion," he continued. "Now I admire him even more for how he manages his day to day life with total humility, (and) always with a smile for people."

While Messi's record in front of goal wasn't quite at his Barcelona levels, he still scored the goal which sealed the title for PSG. He scored 40 or more goals in a season on eight occasions for Barca, peaking with 73 - including 50 in La Liga alone - back in 2011-12.

Herrera's comments come after Alejandro Garnacho appeared torn on the Messi v Ronaldo question. The teenager has been a teammate of both stars, playing with Ronaldo at Man Utd and linking up with Messi after earning his first call-up to a senior Argentina squad.

Messi and Ronaldo have had a stranglehold on the Ballon d'Or, with only one other player - Luka Modric - winning the award since 2008. However, with both underwhelming by their own high standards in 2021-22, a new name could join the list this year.

Top News

22 December 2024 talksport.com Nuno Espirito Santo will rival Arne Slot to win the Premier League's Manager of the Year award. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona want to sever ties with attacker Ansu Fati at the earliest opportunity in the January transfer window but the player is rebelling against a move, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane has confirmed that he wants to remain at the Allianz Arena despite links with a return to the Premier League next year. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Serie A powerhouses Napoli have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Manchester United defender Harry Maguire on a free transfer next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Sorloth scored a last-gasp winner as Atletico Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to go top of the La Liga table. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has been seen leaving Selhurst Park on crutches after sustaining a suspected hamstring problem in Saturday's 5-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have written a new page of English football history thanks to their 5-1 destruction of London rivals Crystal Palace in Saturday's Premier League derby. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Round 17 of the 2024-25 Turkish Super Lig will be wrapped up with a clash between two sides from the Marmara region, as Istanbul Basaksehir welcome Kasimpasa to the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on Monday evening. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Leicester loan star Facundo Buonanotte wants to see a Tottenham forward join him so they can rekindle their partnership. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal's rivals will hate it but they can definitely claim London is red after their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus continued his resurgence with two goals as the Gunners demolished Crystal Palace 5-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal fans' worst fears have been realised with Bukayo Saka substituted early with a suspected hamstring injury. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have suffered a worrying injury blow over Bukayo Saka, who appeared to pick up a hamstring problem in Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona and Arsenal are reportedly both interested in signing Sevilla midfielder Lucien Agoume, with the France Under-21s international potentially leaving Estadio Ramon next summer. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have welcomed Ferland Mendy back into their squad for Sunday's La Liga clash with Sevilla. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Mykhailo Mudryk will be sat ringside at Oleksandr Usyk's rematch with Tyson Fury days after being suspended from football. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton have confirmed the appointment of former Roma head coach Ivan Juric as their new manager following the departure of Russell Martin. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United's 4-0 victory against Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon at Portman Road ensured that they followed up their qualification for the EFL Cup semi-final with an important three points in the Premier League. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton have confirmed ex-Roma boss Ivan Juric as their new manager to replace Russell Martin. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest enhanced their Champions League credentials and condemned Brentford to their first home loss of the Premier League season with a 2-0 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Jack Grealish burned some bridges with Aston Villa after taunting the club's fans following their victory over Manchester City. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A fitting final Premier League match before Christmas Day, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool engage in a battle of the behemoths in North London on Sunday afternoon. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa handed Manchester City a 2-1 defeat on Saturday, adding to the woes of Pep Guardiola's side, who have now endured nine losses in their last 12 matches. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has claimed that his side decided to defeat Manchester City "through domination" on Saturday afternoon. 21 December 2024 talksport.com "This is a crisis." 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Sevilla to Bernabeu on Sunday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have added Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk to their wishlist for the summer transfer window, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be without the services of Hector Fort for Saturday's La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid, with the defender ruled out of the contest due to a hamstring problem. 21 December 2024 talksport.com It was the nightmare before Christmas for new Coventry City manager Frank Lampard. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's horror run of form continued on Saturday afternoon, with Pep Guardiola's side beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in the Premier League.