Nine players who have played with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have given their opinions on who is the better player.

Only a select few stars have ever had the privilege of playing with two of the all-time greats in their illustrious careers.

But every player will have a different preference to how the duo helped their performance, so what exactly did some of them say?

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Angel Di Maria - Played with Messi for Argentina, Ronaldo for Real Madrid



Verdict - Lionel Messi

PSG winger Di Maria picked his international compatriot ahead of Ronaldo but still credited both players as being world class.

He told TyC Sports per Daily Mail back in 2018: "Messi is always the best, he's the best every year. Cristiano Ronaldo's a special player, but Messi's from another planet.

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"There are no words to describe Messi, he always surprises you."

Carlos Tevez - Played with Messi for Argentina, Ronaldo for Manchester United

Verdict - Lionel Messi

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Tevez won two Premier League titles and a Champions League with Ronaldo during their time at Old Trafford but he still rated Messi better - but only just.

"Messi plays another sport. For Messi to score three goals [in any given game] is normal," he told ESPN Argentina per FIFA.com.

Nelson Semedo - Plays with Messi for Barcelona, Ronaldo for Portugal



Verdict - Both

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Nelson Semedo is the first player to go straight down the middle in his vote for the duo, explaining per L'Esportiu: "I had the privilege of playing with both of them and I enjoy every moment I played with both. I hope you understand me."

Andre Gomes - Played with Messi for Barcelona, plays with Ronaldo for Portugal

Verdict - Both

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Everton midfielder Gomes also refused to make the tough decision. He was part of the Portugal side that won the European Championships in 2016 but also had the upmost respect for his former club captain Messi.

"I do not like to compare them out of respect," he told Catalunya Radio in 2017.

"I will never answer it. I'm Portuguese and I have affection for Cristiano, as much as I do for Messi, who is my teammate at Barcelona."



Gerard Pique - Plays with Messi at Barcelona, played with Ronaldo for Manchester United



Verdict - Messi

Pique was a youngster at Manchester United with Ronaldo but has become an iconic figure at the Nou Camp with Messi.

It's also Pique who gave ESPN the famous line of: "For me it's like Messi is not human but Cristiano is the best of the humans."

Ezequiel Garay - Played with Messi for Argentina, Ronaldo for Real Madrid



Verdict - Messi

Garay is similar to Pique, spending his early career with Ronaldo at club level but the bulk of it with Messi. "When people ask me who is the best player ever, I say Leo," he explained.

"From the first time I saw him with Argentina U-15 to this day he continues to amaze me. He has no limit."

Henrik Larsson - Played with Messi for Barcelona, Ronaldo for Manchester United

Verdict - Messi

Gettin to look at Larsson and Messi on the tele tonight

What a pleasure pic.twitter.com/QlfdHo1gEc - Aidn (@aidnmc) April 10, 2019

"Cristiano is unlucky to be playing at the same time as Messi. Ronaldo is a very good player, but Messi is even better.", the Swede explained to Goal.com.

"He is from out of this world. He's so good that it's almost incredible. When you see him with the ball at his feet it's hard to believe that anybody else could do the same. He's a fantastic player to see."

Gabriel Heinze - Played with Messi for Argentina, Ronaldo for Manchester United

Verdict - Both

Heinze is another who simply can't decide on the superior star. "Cristiano Ronaldo has drive and enviable self-discipline," he explained to La Nacion. "He's an obsessive. As long as he has not reached the goal he has put in his head, he does not stop trying."

"Leo is inexplicable. Footballistically, he does not come from this planet. And as a person, he leads such a quiet life that is admirable."

Fernando Gago - Played with Messi for Argentina, Ronaldo for Real Madrid

Verdict - Messi

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Gago played with both men during their prime and could have the most authority on this subject, with his international teammate coming out on top.

"For me he [Ronaldo] is not number one. For me, the best in the world is Messi because of the way he plays, moves with the ball and changes matches.

"Messi has incredible ability and I love the way that he plays."

Which player do you think is the best, Ronaldo or Messi?