The eternal debate over who stands atop football’s pantheon, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, usually splits fans down the middle. However, Angel Di Maria, one of the few elite players to have shared a dressing room with both legends, has provided a fascinating insight into the one department where the Portuguese superstar stands unrivaled.
Speaking in a candid interview with Diario AS from his home in Rosario, Di Maria admitted that while Messi remains the greatest in his eyes, Cristiano Ronaldo is “by far” the superior professional.
The professionalism gap
Di Maria spent four trophy-laden years alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid (2010-2014) and over a decade winning everything possible with Messi for Argentina. When asked about the impression Ronaldo left on him, the “Fideo” was unequivocal.
“In terms of professionalism, Cris is number one by far,” Di Maria stated. “His work ethic, his ability to maintain his level, and his constant effort to be the best while competing with Leo was truly commendable.”
He noted that Ronaldo’s entire career has been a monument to “hard work and effort” to reach the summit. In contrast, he described Messi’s greatness as something more ethereal.
“Cris was all about work… but Messi, drinking mate in the locker room, later showed that he had a gift from God to be the best,” he added, highlighting the “natural vs. nurtured” narrative that has defined their rivalry for two decades.
Kylian Mbappe is currently the best as per Di Maria
Interestingly, while Di Maria acknowledges the legacy of his two former teammates, he believes the “Best in the World” mantle for 2026 has officially shifted.
The 37-year-old veteran, now playing for his boyhood club Rosario Central, named Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe as the current king of the sport. “Today, he is the best. When he found his playing style, he became a game-changer,” Di Maria said of his former PSG teammate.
When Cesar Luis Menotti named Di Maria in the same bracket as Messi & Maradona
Despite being hailed by the late Cesar Luis Menotti as a player who belongs in the same bracket as Messi and Maradona, Di Maria remains incredibly grounded. Refuting the comparison, he insisted he is “very far removed” from the two icons, stating they “belong to a different world.”
As both Messi (Inter Miami) and Ronaldo (Al Nassr) continue to defy time in 2026, Di Maria’s comments serve as a reminder: one reached the top through an unparalleled “gift,” while the other remains the ultimate blueprint for “professionalism.”