Why Carlos Tevez says Lionel Messi’s instinct gives him the edge over Cristiano Ronaldo

Carlos Tevez has selected Lionel Messi ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in his personal comparison of the two football greats, saying the Argentine’s ability to produce skills naturally is what separates him from his long-time rival.

Tevez discussed the pair during an interview with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand on the programme Rio Ferdinand Presents. He was asked to choose between Messi and Ronaldo and explain the main differences he had observed while playing alongside both players.

The former Argentina international said Messi’s technical ability appeared to come instinctively. Ronaldo, by contrast, developed many of his qualities through continuous training and an intense commitment to improving both his physical condition and his football.

Tevez explained that Ronaldo regularly worked on the smallest details of his game, including his movements with the ball and his dribbling. He said he had not seen Messi practise dribbling in the same way, believing that many of the Barcelona and Argentina star’s skills emerged naturally.

That difference ultimately led Tevez to favour Messi when asked to decide between the two. His view was based on his own experience of watching both players train and perform in competitive matches.

Tevez also identified one area in which Ronaldo clearly held the advantage. He said the Portuguese forward was superior to Messi in the air and particularly effective with headers.

The two players were otherwise closely matched in terms of physical strength and their determination to reach the highest level, according to Tevez. He added that their rivalry had helped them maintain outstanding standards over many years.

Tevez also noted that both players had improved significantly in the quality and accuracy of their shooting as their careers progressed. His assessment highlighted the contrasting characteristics that enabled each man to influence matches despite their different styles.

The Argentine is well placed to discuss the comparison. He played with Ronaldo at Manchester United between 2007 and 2009, while he joined Messi in the Argentina national team.

That experience gave Tevez the opportunity to observe both players at close range, including their approach to training and their impact during matches. However, his preference for Messi remains a personal judgement drawn from those experiences and does not settle the continuing debate over which of the two legends is superior.