The eternal debate over the greatest footballer of all time has received another verdict—this time from Ángel Di María. The Argentine winger, who has had the privilege of playing alongside both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, did not hesitate when asked to pick between the two legends.

In an interview with InfoBAE, Di María acknowledged Ronaldo’s confidence and drive but made it clear that, in his eyes, Messi is on another level. “Cristiano always tried to be the best, but he was just born in the wrong era, because another player was touched by the magic wand,” he explained. He pointed to the numbers as proof, highlighting Messi’s record-breaking eight Ballon d’Or wins compared to Ronaldo’s five, as well as the major distinction of winning the World Cup.

Beyond the trophies, Di María emphasized Messi’s effortless brilliance on the pitch: “You see it in every match, every minute. Messi plays as if he were in his own backyard, and he has done so for nearly 20 years. For me, Leo is the best in the world and the best in history, without a doubt.”

While the debate will never have a definitive answer, Di María’s perspective carries weight as someone who shared the pitch with both legends at the highest level.