The debate over Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is a never-ending one in football. Both are undoubtedly among the greatest players to ever play the game. When it comes to the two strikers, Chiellini stressed that marking them is a very different thing.
With the Portuguese striker, Giorgio Chiellini pointed out that simply ensuring R7 has as little time and space as possible with the ball will reduce the striker’s influence on a match.
On the contrary, Chiellini believes that marking Messi is impossible. Even if you mark the Argentine striker tightly, like you did with Ronaldo, it will not reduce his influence on the match.
“How do you mark Ronaldo? You just have to not leave him alone, have space and not let him shoot with his right foot. And Messi? You can only pray” – Chiellini expressed.
With the above comment, the Juventus legend has truly proven one aspect that shows Messi is of a higher class than Ronaldo. However, the former Italian player said that if he had to choose someone to play with in the final, he would choose Ronaldo.
From the above comments, Chiellini also added that the defender position in modern football has changed a lot.
Chiellini assessed: “In the last few years, the role of the defender has been re-established. Everyone has to understand their role. Experience can help you read situations better, make fewer mistakes in actions. Understanding the opponent is also essential, both individually and collectively.”
The Italy and Juventus legend is not the first to make such claims about Messi. Former Barcelona player Gerard Pique has also hinted at the same thing.
