Hamann: Ronaldo Always Prioritizes Personal Interests Over the Team, Unlike Messi%

In recent days, Liverpool and German football legend Dietmar Hamann has publicly commented on the two superstar figures, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He criticized Ronaldo’s reluctance to leave the field despite not contributing significantly to his team, stating that this is something Messi would “never” do.

In an interview with TopOffshoreSportsBooks, Hamann clearly stated that Ronaldo has never learned to place the team’s interests before his own, while Messi consistently prioritizes the team above himself. Hamann said, “This is not just about mentality in games, but how you view the relationship between the individual and the team. I can confirm that Messi and Ronaldo have been the best players in the world for the past 20 years, but if Messi feels he cannot help the team, he will 100% not insist on playing.”

With these comments, Hamann’s target was clear. In the recently concluded European Championship, Ronaldo and his Portuguese team were eliminated by France in the round of 16. Ronaldo played all five matches but contributed little to the team. More puzzlingly, players like Jota and Gonçalo Ramos did not get a single minute of playtime against France, and when Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was substituted, coach Roberto Martínez never considered taking off the 39-year-old Ronaldo. The Portuguese superstar’s return to the team was 23 shots without scoring, failing even at his trademark penalty kicks.

Hamann also pointed out that Ronaldo’s old rival, Messi, helped Argentina successfully defend their Copa America title, always putting the team first and ensuring the coach made the right choice in selecting the starting eleven. Hamann said, “Messi would tell the coach, you know what, I don’t think I can handle such a game anymore, you should use another formation. If you need me to come on when other players are tired, say the last 20 or 30 minutes, maybe I can still pull some magic (do something for the team). But Messi would never hold onto a position; he would give it up so others could perform better.”