25 October 2023 , 20:36
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Miralem Pjanic, who shared the pitch with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, has resolved the debate between the two superstars by saying he had more fun playing alongside the latter.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international lined up with Messi at Barcelona after playing alongside Ronaldo at Juventus. He now plays for Al Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and the 33-year-old had no problem confirming which of the football icons he preferred playing with.
"I talk to Cristiano Ronaldo a lot," the 33-year-old told O Jogo. "I have many memories with him. He is a great footballer. He is the strongest I have ever worked with and one of the best ever," he said.
"He is among the two, three strongest players in history. It was a pleasure for my son to see him. I was lucky enough to play with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and it is difficult to say who is stronger. However, I had more fun with Ronaldo than Messi. They are two of the greatest footballers of all time and are great examples for the kids", he finished.
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During his time in Italy, Pjanic won three trophies, including the Serie A title. His period at Camp Nou, however, was quite challenging. He did not make a single goal contribution and was only started 13 La Liga matches in the 2020-21 season, which also happened to be Messi's final campaign with the club.
The Bosnian international had 77 appearances alongside Ronaldo during his time at Juventus and 30 alongside Messi during his stint at Barcelona. When being revealed by Barcelona, Pjanic said, "It's been important for me to play alongside big players like Ronaldo and Totti [at Roma], who have been the best, an example. Now I have the chance to play alongside basically an extraterrestrial."
Pjanic also made a previous comparison between Messi and Ronaldo while on loan at Besiktas, highlighting their similarities and differences. He emphasised that both players were highly driven by a desire to compete and win, and this determination was evident not only in matches but also in their training efforts.
Cristiano Ronaldo greets ex-Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic before a Champions League matchPjanic pointed out that Ronaldo was known for his meticulous attention to detail in his training and was dedicated to refining every aspect of his game. As for Messi, Pjanic was impressed by the World Cup's ability to make complex tasks seem effortless.
This simplicity was showcased in his approach towards something as nerve-wracking as taking penalties, where Messi demonstrated remarkable composure and ease. The World Cup final being a direct example of this, when Messi scored a penalty in regular time as well as the shootout.