Former Real Madrid head coach Fabio Capello has
lauded the Barcelona superstar as
“only genius in world football” while also praising Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact on Juventus.
“Leo Messi is not a footballer, he is a genius and the only genius in world football.
Barcelona superstar Messi and Ronaldo have won five Ballon d’Or awards apiece, with ongoing debate as to who is the greatest player of all time.
“He has not won much silverware with Argentina but that is because he cannot do it all alone.”
Capello did laud Ronaldo following his move to Juventus, where the former Madrid star has flourished this season.
“Cristiano has woken up a lot of Juventus players,” ex-Juve player and coach Capello said. “Bringing him to the club has been a wake-up call for many players and he has made them improve.
“He is very important for Juventus because having someone as good as him at training every day and someone who takes care of himself in the way Ronaldo does, is hugely significant for a team that was coasting.
“It is obvious that he is desperate to win the Champions League with Juventus.”
The Italian refused to get into a war of words over who he believes to be the better manager out of Massimiliano Allegri and Diego Pablo Simeone.
He lauded them both, suggesting that they are both equally as good at adapting themselves to their players and their rivals.
“I like managers like them who are open and willing to mix things up from time to time and not stick to one formation or game plan,” he stated.
“They know their best starting evelens, they study their opponents in-depth and they are always aware of where the potential danger will come from and the areas where they feel they can exploit and take advantage of,” he added.