Cristiano Ronaldo's former Manchester United teammate Giuseppe Rossi said that he regards Lionel Messi as the "greatest player of all time" over the Portuguese star.
A detailed assessment of both players' qualities was given by the former Italy international, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2004 just when Cristiano Ronaldo was becoming a first-team regular, according to Goal.
However, Rossi said it ultimately comes down to personal preference as he chose Messi.
While playing for La Liga clubs Villarreal and Levante, Rossi faced the Barcelona legend on several occasions.
"They both bring different things to the game, that’s why it’s so hard to compare them," Rossi told DAZN.
"The positioning is different, the style of play is different. The interpretation of the game is different."
"Ronaldo went from a winger to being the best number nine on the planet, scoring goals is all he cares about. Messi is a goal scorer but he facilitates and I appreciate that as a player who likes to come deep and get the ball. He's a more cerebral player, Messi and therefore some people don't understand that part of the game, right? Those who do appreciate it more. So that's why I lean more towards watching Messi play," he added.