Lionel Messi’s Former Coach Counters Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Ligue 1’ Claim: It’s ‘More Exciting’ Than La Liga

The recent dynamics in global soccer have been dominated by a fervent debate surrounding the supremacy of soccer leagues. This intriguing dispute was initially triggered by Cristiano Ronaldo‘s daring proclamation that, in terms of competition, the Saudi Pro League surpassed Ligue 1. Not long after his statement, none other than Lionel Messi‘s former coach, Jorge Sampaoli, stepped up to endorse the French league vigorously and asserted its superiority over La Liga.

The former Argentina manager, Jorge Sampaoli, is no stranger to both Ligue 1 and La Liga. The Argentine’s distinguished managerial career comprises tenures with teams such as Sevilla, and Marseille. So, what does he have to say about these top European leagues?

Jorge Sampaoli believes ‘the French can win anywhere’

In a recent interview with L’Equipe, the esteemed soccer coach expressed his preference for the French League. “They’re two different leagues, but Ligue 1 seems more exciting to me today,” articulated Sampaoli. Elaborating on his stance, he added, “When I was there, there were Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe at PSG, Lucas Paqueta at Lyon, very high-level players, and great teams, like Rennes or Lens.” 

Dive Deeper: “Born With Something”- Pep Guardiola Likened to Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi

Commenting on La Liga, he mentioned, “When I arrived at Sevilla in 2017, we took on French players like Wissam Ben Yedder and Clement Lenglet because they have talent and quality. The French can win anywhere,” concluded the 63-year-old. The Argentine seems to hold great admiration for the French representation in football along with their respective domestic league system.

Intriguingly, these statements were made shortly after Cristiano Ronaldo’s comments on Ligue 1. Many have tied CR7’s assertion with his long-standing rivalry with Lionel Messi, who has past affiliations with Ligue 1.

Cristiano Ronaldo blasted for his comments against Ligue 1

Ex-Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) footballer Laure Boulleau has openly expressed her disapproval of the remarks made by Cristiano Ronaldo. In a recent statement, she criticized the Portuguese professional strongly, stating, “I was surprised by his communication. Why attack Ligue 1? Because Lionel Messi played here?”

Furthermore, she considered this behavior ‘out of character for him’ and even labeled it as ‘lame’. Interestingly, in response to the Al Nassr striker’s statement, Ligue 1’s official X account distinctly responded by featuring an image of Lionel Messi. From these series of events, it can be deduced that Ronaldo’s proclamation has undeniably stirred up quite a controversy.

WATCH THIS STORY: Soccer Stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Make a Huge Assist for Esports Space

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.