Not Only Dani Carvajal, Another Real Madrid Stalwart Refused to Pick Cristiano Ronaldo Over Lionel Messi

The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is one for the history books. The debate has sparked countless discussions and divided opinions worldwide. When it comes to allegiances, it is usually expected that those affiliated with Barcelona and Real Madrid will unwaveringly back their respective heroes. But in an unexpected turn of events, following Dani Carvajal, another Los Blancos staunch emerged with an opposing viewpoint, saying that there is ‘no reason to choose‘ between Messi and CR7.

In a lengthy chat with AS, Theo Hernandez was surprisingly asked about his former Madrid teammate being his reference, who is currently shining in Saudi Arabia with 20 goals and 9 assists. While backing Ronaldo as ‘more than an example‘ and an ‘icon’ of the beautiful game, Hernandez claimed that the 39-year-old helped him a lot when he arrived in the Spanish capital at 19. “He was one of the players who was more attentive to the younger players, trying to make us feel as comfortable as possible. I learned many things from him and it was a privilege to share a dressing room,” said the AC Milan star. 

When succinctly asked if he prefers CR7 over Messi, the 26-year-old replied, “I’m very much a Cristiano fan, but there’s no reason to choose. I’ve been lucky to have Cristiano as a teammate and Messi as a rival. I like both players. Each one has his own unique style and has left an indelible mark on soccer.” While it’s clear that his heart still lies in Madrid, Hernandez candidly snubbed the comparisons between Messi and Ronaldo. Despite facing La Pulga as rivals, the defender has respect for the Argentinian superstar. Interestingly, this is similar to what Dani Carvajal has to say!

Dani Carvajal keeps Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the ‘same level’ 

Cristiano Ronaldo’s ex-Real Madrid teammate Dani Carvajal also follows a similar ideology to Theo Hernandez. Speaking in a podcast, he said, “I put them on the same level. I don’t prefer one over the other. They are monsters in every sense of the word, and I could not choose neither this nor that.” The right-back acknowledges that both are different from each other. The praise didn’t stop there!

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi in 2024: Who Has a Higher Net Worth & Rakes In a Bigger Salary?

He said that Messi can drop deep to receive the ball, initiate attacks, and add to the game’s flow to create better gameplay. On the other hand, Carvajal labeled Ronaldo as a ‘monster’ for scoring goals and finishing the attack. “If they were playing together, they would have been a bomb and it would have been interesting to see,” he added. Evidently, both Messi and Ronaldo have left a lasting impression on the soccer world. 

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