"I never got near him" – Lampard chooses between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during best opponent discussion

 

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard picked Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo while naming the best player he ever played against. The former England international went on to name Ronaldinho as the second-best opponent he faced during his career.

Lampard stated below:

“There’s two that I would say – one is Messi, because I think he’s just the best. The other one is Ronaldinho, because in 2005, we went to the Nou Camp, it was my first encounter of a player on a different planet," Lampard said. "Him and (Samuel) Eto’o on that day, but particularly Ronaldinho’s movements, I was like, wow, this is different.”

“I didn’t play Ronaldo at his peak. I played him at Man United and he was getting towards it, but not in those years at Madrid, where he was just ridiculous," Lampard said. "I feel bad with Cristiano Ronaldo, because what he has done in massive games, and winning finals and stuff; I think that’s such a tight call. I didn’t really come against him then, but I feel I did with Messi, and I never got near him – he was just amazing.”