Former Barcelona Star: “Young Players Don’t Idolize Messi"

Former Barcelona midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng recently attracted attention with a surprising opinion about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. According to him, young players today don’t truly idolize Messi as many believe.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have long been icons of world football, fiercely competing for over a decade. Whenever these two names come up, fans debate who is better and who serves as the ideal role model for younger generations. Recently, former Barcelona player Kevin Prince-Boateng shared an unexpected perspective on this topic, causing many football fans to reconsider.

According to Boateng, young players nowadays don’t genuinely idolize Messi because the Argentine star’s talent is innate and nearly impossible to replicate. “Young players don’t idolize Messi because you will never become him. Messi was born with talent in his left foot. We can’t be like him. But you can become a type of Cristiano Ronaldo, because that’s about hard work. Of course, Ronaldo is talented too, but there came a point when he realized: ‘I will stop just showing off and start working hard,’”Boateng shared.

Although Boateng once expressed admiration for Ronaldo, he had a stint at Barcelona mainly as a substitute. After only four appearances, he left the club but was deeply impressed by Messi’s ball control during training, where the Argentine superstar seemed to seize every opportunity perfectly.

This opinion sparks debate about the styles and paths to success of the two legends. Messi is known for his all-around ability, scoring and assisting, while Ronaldo is famed for his hard work and exceptional goal-scoring. Legend Marco van Basten also countered the idea that Messi isn’t hardworking: “Ronaldo works hard, but who forgets that Messi is still playing? He’s 38 years old and maintains his form through relentless effort.”

In fact, as of October 2025, Messi still leads the MLS with 43 goals and 24 assists, proving that innate talent combined with professional discipline helps him sustain top performance. Overall, the story of Messi and Ronaldo is not just about comparing skills but also a lesson in passion, effort, and how each player builds his own legacy in football history.

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