In a Forbes-translated interview with Oddspedia, former Real Madrid player Julio Baptista expressed his preference for Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo as the greatest football player of the last 20 years.

“Both Lionel and Cristiano Ronaldo are incredible players.

But I would rate Messi slightly higher.

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I think because they both played in the same league for Real Madrid and Barcelona, it created an incredible rivalry.

There was so much expectation of them and they both delivered. Ronaldo is unbelievable but Messi is a genius; winning Ballon d’Or eight times says it all.

“They are the best players of the last 20 years and probably in the history of football,” commented the Brazilian.