Manchester City legend David Silva, who now plies his trade at Real Sociedad once again enjoyed a victory against his old foes Manchester United. Sociedad handed the Red Devils an embarrassing defeat at Old Trafford in their Europa League opener. However, the headline from the game was still about Cristiano Ronaldo featuring in the competition for the first time ever.
After the Portuguese failed to inspire his side to a victory, David Silva’s comments while picking his GOAT between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi from 2013 have resurfaced. The Spaniard, while acknowledging the greatness of both the players, went with the Argentine as the best player. He also explained his reasons for picking Messi over Ronaldo and why the seven-time Ballon d’Or is ‘above the rest’.
David Silva labels Lionel Messi the ‘best’ over Cristiano Ronaldo
The Ronaldo vs Messi debate has been a long fought one with almost every person of the footballing world picking their sides. The two majestic players have been at the top of their game for almost two decades now, dominating the individual awards for the past 15 years. Ronaldo and Messi share a staggering 12 Ballon d’Ors between them, with five in the Portugal international’s trophy cabinet and a record seven awards to the name of ‘La Pulga’.
David Silva too joined the debate back in 2013, when he was with United’s fiercest rivals Manchester City. Speaking on AS ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, the playmaker gave his verdict over who he backed for the prestigious award:
“I prefer those two [Messi and Ronaldo], they are such great players and they are at the highest level, but I think Messi is the best. He shows every weekend that he is above the rest. I hope that a Spaniard can win [the Ballon d’Or]. If they don’t win it now, then, I don’t think they ever will.”
David Silva enjoyed a stellar career at City, winning eleven trophies which included 4 Premier League titles. He also racked up 140 assists and 77 goals at the Etihad across 436 appearances. Silva was also a part of the Spain national team which won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 EURO Championships.
He left City in 2020 and returned to Spain with Real Sociedad, where has so far recorded 11 assists and 4 goals in 64 games helping them to a Copa del Rey title. Meanwhile, Ronaldo and Messi are enduring complete opposite seasons at their respective clubs. Last summer, it was for the first time ever the two changed sides in the same transfer window.
While Ronaldo returned to United, Messi left his beloved FC Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain after the Catalans club was unable to register him. Nonetheless, he is enjoying his life at the Parisian club alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, so far collecting 4 goals and 6 assists in 8 games. On the other hand, Ronaldo failed to find a new club this summer to continue to feature in the Champions League and hence will be gracing the Europa League this season.