Garay settles Messi and Ronaldo debate after sharing pitch with both
Ezequiel Garay has weighed in on football’s most enduring argument, backing Lionel Messi as the greatest player he has ever played with after lining up alongside both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during his career.
The former Real Madrid and Argentina defender, who spent three seasons in Madrid and earned 32 international caps, placed Messi ahead of Ronaldo while reflecting on two very different versions of greatness shaped by talent and relentless work.
Garay’s view carries rare perspective. He watched Ronaldo’s rise at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2008 and 2011, a period that marked the beginning of a record-breaking era for the Portuguese forward, while also sharing the international stage with Messi during Argentina’s golden generation.
The context matters. Ronaldo would go on to become Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer with 450 goals in 438 appearances, redefining elite athletic standards through discipline and obsession with improvement. Messi, meanwhile, was already dazzling at youth level when Garay helped Argentina win the Under-20 World Cup alongside him and Sergio Aguero.
Speaking about the long-running GOAT debate, Garay made his stance clear, placing Messi first and Ronaldo second. His reasoning was rooted in footballing purity rather than numbers alone, describing Messi as the player who surprised him most when judged purely on what happens with the ball.
The setting of Garay’s career gave weight to that judgment. At Madrid, he saw Ronaldo’s daily routine up close as the club pushed for domestic and European dominance. With Argentina, he experienced Messi in an environment built on creativity rather than structure, where moments of brilliance could tilt matches instantly.
Key moments from training grounds rather than stadiums shaped Garay’s view. Ronaldo’s reputation for arriving first and leaving last was no exaggeration, a pattern later echoed by Carlos Tevez, who also played alongside both superstars and witnessed the same relentless drive.
Garay confirmed those stories, describing Ronaldo’s early mornings, gym sessions, warm-ups and recovery work as part of a non-negotiable routine that underpinned his success. It was excellence engineered through sacrifice.
Messi’s impact followed a different path. Tevez has previously highlighted how Messi lived with the ball at his feet rather than in the gym, relying on instinct, timing and natural feel for the game. Eight Ballon d’Or awards have reinforced that perception of effortless dominance.
As the debate continues into the twilight of their careers, both players remain active at the highest level. Ronaldo is contracted at Al-Nassr until 2027, while Messi is committed to Inter Miami through 2028, with both expected to represent Portugal and Argentina at the upcoming World Cup.
Garay’s verdict does not close the argument, but it adds a compelling voice shaped by proximity rather than opinion. For him, greatness comes in two forms, but Messi’s stands just a little higher.