Former Italian forward Antonio Cassano has picked Lionel Messi ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the GOAT debate. Cassano feels the Portuguese doesn’t care about the team and his only aim is to score goals whereas Messi is a perfect team man.

Messi and Ronaldo are regarded as two of the best players in the modern era and Cassano shared praise on both of them. Recently, Ronaldo could only manage a solitary assist in Euro 2024 in Germany whereas Messi lifted the Copa America title after they defeated Colombia by 1-0 in the final.

Cassano said on Diario AS via Football Espana, “Cristiano Ronaldo is a manufactured talent. You notice it on social networks where you see him doing sit-ups with his children. There’s so much talk about him, less about Messi. But in football, they are two completely different things. CR7 is very strong, but he’s built his talent.”

Cassano, who retired back in 2017, likened Messi with legendary players like Roger Federer, Michael Jordan and Diego Maradona and feels La Pulga is a once-in-a-generation player.

“Messi, on the other hand, is [Roger] Federer, [Michael] Jordan, [Diego] Maradona. He’s something we’ll never see again in life, he has immense talent that’s a gift from nature. I often hear that Messi played with phenomena at Barcelona. I remember Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta, and, in the beginning, Ronaldinho. But Messi also made players like Pedro, Dani Alves, [Javi] Mascherano, and others champions,” added the former Roma star.

Cassano feels Messi helped his teammates grow in confidence and stature by rubbing shoulders with him.

“He made many players grow with his talent. Ronaldo’s goal is to score goals, he doesn’t give a damn about the team or contributing assists. Messi, on the other hand, makes the whole team grow and he’s my idol.”

Ronaldo is currently enjoying a vacation with his family whereas Messi is recovering from an ankle injury, which he is suffered after twisting his ankle in the Copa America final.