Aguero: 'Messi is greater than Ronaldo before the World Cup'
Messi helped Argentina win the World Cup for the third time, after defeating France in the final penalty shootout on December 18. The 35-year-old striker's brilliant performance, with seven goals and three assists, was recognized by the World Cup Golden Ball title. Meanwhile, Ronaldo was disappointing, and Portugal was eliminated by Morocco in the quarterfinals.
Previously, the argument of who was better between the two had not ended. But with the addition of the only surviving title to the collection, Messi is said to have surpassed the number one opponent in his career. "I don't think there's any controversy here," Aguero told Stake.com. "For me, Messi was ahead of Ronaldo before the World Cup. It's even clearer now. Cristiano has had an extraordinary career and is a complete athlete. But Leo was and is the best."
Sharing Aguero's assessment, former teacher Pep Guardiola said that without winning the World Cup, Messi is already the best player in history. He said: "Everyone has their own opinion, but Messi is the best in history. It is difficult to find a player who can compare to him. Some people appreciate Pele, Alfredo Di Stefano or Diego. Maradona... The reviews are all emotional, but for me, to win or not to win the World Cup, Messi is still the best."
In the World Cup final, Kylian Mbappe emerged as a counterweight to Messi. The French striker became only the second player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, after Geoff Hurst in England's 4-2 win over Germany in 1966, and won the Golden Boot. Mbappe has scored 12 goals in his two World Cup appearances, just four short of Miroslav Klose's record.
Aguero believes Mbappe will achieve more success in the future. But at this time, the 24-year-old striker is not strong enough to overcome Messi's shadow. "Mbappe had a great World Cup. Only 24 years old but he is already the runner-up and won the World Cup. This is a talented striker and will be a formidable opponent for anyone," the former player said. Argentina said.
