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Guardiola's support for Messi is unwavering in the GOAT debate against Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reignited the GOAT debate with a tongue-in-cheek take on the rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
After celebrating the Ballon d’Or win of Manchester City’s Rodri, Guardiola reflected on the dominance Messi and Ronaldo have held over the football world for nearly two decades.
Guardiola celebrates Rodri’s Ballon d’Or
The Cityzens’ gaffer’s comments came after a whirlwind night in Paris, where Manchester City’s delegation partied to honour Rodri’s recognition as the best player in the world.
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The win was particularly special for Guardiola, not just because it was the first time that one of his players had picked up the award since Messi himself.
Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win, following his stellar season with Manchester City, marked a moment of pride for Guardiola, who highlighted Spanish football’s profound impact on the sport and pointed out that while Spain has consistently produced elite talent and won major trophies, its players have often been overshadowed in individual awards.
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“Rodri represents Spanish football perfectly,” Guardiola said, adding that the national style and talent pipeline have influenced the game immensely over the past 15 years.
Guardiola settles GOAT debate
Looking back, Guardiola reminisced about the golden days of La Masia, Barcelona’s iconic academy, which produced legends like Xavi and Iniesta, who both came close to winning the Ballon d'Or, but could not surpass Messi
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Speaking about the dominance that Messi and Ronaldo had over individual awards in the past, Guardiola said, “And Messi, nobody could beat him. Just Cristiano [Ronaldo]. Cristiano was a monster, and the father of the monster is [Lionel] Messi. And both have done something incredible in the last 15, 20 years.”
While Guardiola’s comments added fuel to the GOAT discussion, he also noted that Rodri’s award signifies the wider respect that Spanish football deserves, concluding, "I think Rodri yesterday got what Spanish football deserved worldwide.”
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As Guardiola’s reigning Premier League champions gear up for a busy stretch of games, the Spanish gaffer’s focus remains on pushing his squad toward a fifth successive league title.
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