Angel Di María: Why he ranks Lionel Messi above Cristiano Ronaldo
In an exclusive Ballon d'Or interview, Angel Di María explains why he believes Lionel Messi edges Cristiano Ronaldo, drawing on years playing with both and the different nature of their talents.
Angel Di María has publicly stated he believes Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo, telling the Ballon d'Or website in an exclusive interview that Messi’s natural talent gives him the edge. The comment, published in coverage on June 4, 2026, comes from a player who has the rare experience of sharing a locker room and striking partnership with both all-time greats.
Why it matters
Di María’s view is notable because he has played extensively with both players at club and international level. His perspective is rooted in first-hand experience of their training habits, match temperament and moments together on the field — making his assessment a meaningful contribution to the long-running Messi vs Ronaldo debate.
What Di María said
In the interview, Di María placed Messi and Ronaldo together as the two best players of the modern era and then separated them by saying the difference comes down to "what one has won and what the other has won." When asked to choose between them, he said: "For me, Leo is better than Cristiano because he has a natural talent; he doesn’t have to work constantly to match or equal someone else."
Di María’s shared history with both stars
Di María highlights that he benefited from playing alongside both players over long periods. The source notes his time with Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid — 166 matches together and six trophies including La Liga and the Champions League — and his time with Messi across Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain, where they featured together 142 times and won domestic and international honours with the national team.
- Di María told Ballon d'Or he believes Lionel Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo because of Messi’s natural talent.
- He described Messi and Ronaldo as the two best players of the modern era, adding Diego Maradona to his broader list of greats.
- Di María played with Ronaldo at Real Madrid (166 matches together) and with Messi across Argentina and PSG (142 matches together).
- He emphasised his gratitude at having played alongside both, noting their shared success at club and international level.
Context: careers and silverware mentioned
The source outlines trophies and milestones from Di María’s time alongside each player. With Ronaldo at Real Madrid he was part of squads that won trophies such as the 2011 Copa del Rey, 2012 La Liga and 2014 Champions League. With Messi, Di María’s shared highlights include national-team success: the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2024 Copa America, plus a season together at PSG that yielded a Ligue 1 title.
What it means
Di María’s remarks will add fresh fuel to a debate that regularly divides fans and pundits. His endorsement of Messi on the basis of "natural talent" is a subjective judgement informed by direct experience; readers should treat it as a player’s personal view rather than an objective measure. For followers of Messi, Ronaldo and the Argentina national team, the comments reaffirm the exceptional careers of both players and underscore the unique vantage point of teammates who have played with them.