Gianluigi Buffon: 'Lionel Messi more complete than Cristiano Ronaldo'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 23 March 2018

Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon claims that Lionel Messi is a "more complete" player than perennial rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has claimed that Lionel Messi is a "more complete" player than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the debate of the world's best player over the past decade, winning five Ballons d'Or apiece in that time and establishing themselves amongst the greatest to have ever played the game.

Buffon has come up against both on a number of occasions - and will face Ronaldo's Real Madrid in this season's Champions League quarter-finals - and the veteran shot-stopper has now weighed in on the debate.

"They are two completely different players," Buffon is quoted as saying by FourFourTwo.

"Messi is more complete, because he starts deeper, has more technical quality and a vision of the game that is worthy more of a trequartista than a finisher.

"Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps because he is a little older, has become a killer in the penalty area. Compared to how he was before, Ronaldo preserves his energy more, so he no longer goes out to the flank for a nutmeg or trick shot, but with one ball into the box he can create a goal."

Ronaldo has scored 17 goals in his last eight matches across all competitions, but still trails Messi in the race for the Pichichi trophy this season.