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Who was the ultimate big game player, Ronaldo or Messi?
Former Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini has taken his stance in the eternal debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by picking his former teammate Ronaldo as the ultimate big-game player.
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Chiellini, who shared three successful seasons with the Portuguese icon at Juventus, believes Ronaldo’s mentality and clutch performances make him the ideal choice for decisive matches.
Chiellini picks Ronaldo over Messi
During an appearance on The Overlap podcast, hosted by football legends Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright, Chiellini faced the age-old question: Messi or Ronaldo?
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Without hesitation, the Italian defender picked Ronaldo, praising his determination and ability to lead under pressure in the biggest moments.
“When we were losing, he had the balls to take all the balls, no matter what, try to win, shoot from anywhere in order to lead the team to win, and it’s not easy to do it for a lot of players,” Chiellini said.
Chiellini acknowledged the difficulty of comparing the two footballing greats directly, but for a high-stakes final, Ronaldo was his clear choice. “When the game is more difficult, he raises his level of performance,” he added.
Chiellini and Ronaldo’s history together
Chiellini’s admiration for Ronaldo is rooted in their three-year stint together at Juventus between 2018 and 2021.
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During this period, Ronaldo delivered 101 goals in 134 appearances, helping the team secure two Serie A titles and a Coppa Italia trophy.
Chiellini was also able to witness firsthand Ronaldo take game by the scruff of the neck to rescue his team from certain defeat, both as a teammate and an opponent.
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Ronaldo’s knack for rising to the occasion and his unrelenting drive left an indelible impression on Chiellini, one that led the Juventus and Italy legend to pick him over Messi.
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