There's no doubt that for more than a decade they captured the world's attention: different styles but the same ambition. Both pushed their careers to the highest level, and we were fortunate to witness the Argentine's magic and the Portuguese star's mentality.

Cristiano Ronaldo collected countless titles with Manchester United and, without question, lived his best years with Real Madrid, where he conquered the world. Lionel Messi did the same with Barcelona. It's clear that both are missed at the very top level, but every cycle ends: today one is enjoying his time with Inter Miami in MLS, while the other continues in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr.

Their rivalry peaked between 2009 and 2018, when they dominated LaLiga. The Clásicos between Real Madrid and Barcelona were simply spectacular, uniting football fans around the globe. Today that match still has its history, but the absence of those two giants leaves a noticeable void.

The comparisons never end

Years will pass, and the comparisons between Messi and Ronaldo will never stop. It's part of being two of the greatest players ever - for many, the greatest, although that will forever be debated. This time, the one reigniting the discussion was Thomas Müller. The German, now with the Vancouver Whitecaps and recently defeated by Inter Miami in the MLS Cup final, shared his thoughts.

The Bayern Munich legend said he respects both players but leans slightly toward Lionel Messi:

"They're both still playing and producing numbers. For me, Messi is more impressive because his style is a bit more magical, a purer talent. Ronaldo's work ethic is unbelievable and even better than Messi's, but watching Messi play... it's not unbelievable because I know what he can do week after week, but it is very impressive," Müller said.

However, a few months ago, when he had just arrived in MLS, Müller had stated he leaned toward Cristiano Ronaldo: "In my first ten years as a professional footballer, I always chose Cristiano whenever there was a debate about the greatest of all time," he admitted to MLS media.

Changing opinions about Messi and Cristiano is normal. The reality is that both are living legends who could still compete in the next World Cup. Messi has yet to decide if he will play, while the Portuguese star is eager for the tournament to begin.