Ander Herrera spent a number of years with Manchester United before Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the club, but is now a teammate of Messi at Paris Saint-Germain
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Ander Herrera is well-placed to make a judgement on the Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo debate, and the former Manchester United midfielder has sided with his current teammate.
Herrera spent last season with Messi at PSG, having himself joined the French club from United back in 2019. His time at Old Trafford might not have coincided with either of Ronaldo’s stints there, but he played alongside others – most notably Wayne Rooney – who knew what it was like to accompany the Portuguese star in attack.
Spain international Herrera, who turns 33 in August, has seen colleague Messi receive criticism for failing to sustain his previous highs since moving to Ligue 1. However, the former Athletic Bilbao star has taken the South American’s side in one of football’s longest-running debates.
Messi scored just six league goals for PSG after joining the club from Barcelona, and 11 in all competitions. It was his lowest return since his breakthrough Barcelona campaign, when the Argentine was still a teenager, but Herrera rushed to his colleague’s defence.
“You are asking for 50 goals per season,” Herrera told AS (via The Mail ). “From there, if he doesn’t score them, people talk.
“Nor should we forget that Leo has had the all-time record in Ligue 1 – he has hit the post 10 times! If he had scored 10 more goals, it would (have) been a very good season for Leo.”
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Ronaldo, like Messi, was on the move last summer. He outscored his long-time rival, netting 24 times in United colours after returning to the club he first left in 2009, but Herrera continued to bang the drum for Messi.
‘For me, he is the best of all time, without any discussion,” he continued. “Now I admire him even more for how he manages his day to day life with total humility, (and) always with a smile for people.”
While Messi’s record in front of goal wasn’t quite at his Barcelona levels, he still scored the goal which sealed the title for PSG. He scored 40 or more goals in a season on eight occasions for Barca, peaking with 73 – including 50 in La Liga alone – back in 2011-12.
Herrera’s comments come after Alejandro Garnacho appeared torn on the Messi v Ronaldo question. The teenager has been a teammate of both stars, playing with Ronaldo at Man Utd and linking up with Messi after earning his first call-up to a senior Argentina squad.
Messi and Ronaldo have had a stranglehold on the Ballon d’Or, with only one other player – Luka Modric – winning the award since 2008. However, with both underwhelming by their own high standards in 2021-22, a new name could join the list this year.
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