Jermaine Pennant: Messi is a touch above in comparison to Ronaldo

Former La Liga winger Jermaine Pennant has told NewBettingSites.uk that he thinks Lionel Messi is a touch above Cristiano Ronaldo in the age-old debate.

Having played against both superstars in his career, Pennant reckons Messi’s ability to create magic from nothing and completely flip a game on its head himself earns the Argentine top spot in the all-time ranking.

Speaking to NewBettingSites.uk, Pennant said: “I’ve played against both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and they’re both unbelievable, amazing athletes in their own rights. While Ronaldo is an absolute machine of a goalscorer, what stood out to me was Messi seemed to do everything on his own.

“Messi could get the ball on his own, skip past three players and then stick it in the top corner, he was unstoppable. I can remember going into the changing room and speaking to Thierry Henry after playing Barcelona, and even he was in awe of Messi. I looked around the corner and Messi was just sitting there like a little schoolboy!

“It was unbelievable that he could do it all with all of the odds against him, and for that reason I’d have to put him above the rest. We played Barca twice, and each time he just took us apart. He scored a hat-trick when we played at home, and then ran riot in a 6-1 win at the Nou Camp. He’s an unstoppable force – he can do things with a football than no one else can out there.”

Although ageing, Messi can still create the same magical impact on the pitch

Asked whether Messi can still produce the same quality as he did in his prime, Pennant thinks that naturally signs of wear and tear will reduce his sharpness, although he’s still got that quality within him to have a huge impact on the pitch.

“It’s hard to say whether Messi is as effective now as he once was against the top defenders,” said Pennant. “There comes a point when your body isn’t as sharp as it once was. You will see some wear and tear now he’s 37 years old. He’ll still have his ability to dribble well, I just don’t think he’ll be as sharp as he once was and playing in America versus teams at the highest level in Europe is night and day.

“He won’t have as much joy on the pitch as he once did in his career but at the same time, he’s still got the ability to be magic on the pitch and have a massive impact.”

Ronaldo will be in the World Cup squad, you can’t deny his threat

Pennant was also full of praise for Ronaldo, claiming the Portugal international will be included in the squad for next year’s World Cup because he still carries a threat in the attacking third, and can put the goals away.

Pennant said: “You can’t argue with what Ronaldo says, you just need to look at the numbers he’s been putting up year after year, he’s phenomenal. He was classed as a winger at Manchester United and a great one at that. He then became a striker so can back up his claim as an all-rounder and one of the greatest to ever do it.

“You can’t take his goalscoring ability away from him, but can he make magic happen himself when the game isn’t going in his direction like Messi can? I’m not too sure anymore. I think Ronaldo will be in the Portuguese squad in the World Cup because he’s a threat in and outside of the box. When it’s in that attacking third, he can still put the ball away if he receives it.”