Messi and Ronaldo, two of the greatest players ever, have had some elite teammates but only a handful of them had the honor to share the pitch with both at some point in their careers.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated all the highlights, awards, and trophies that any soccer player can dream about since their rise to stardom.
They’ve always been on the opposite side of the pitch and have starred some of the best matches in the history of this sport.
Messi and Ronaldo have both stayed at the top of the game for a very long time. They’ve also played for the best teams in the world, meaning they’ve had their fair share of top-notch teammates throughout their careers.
1. Sergio Ramos.
Sergio Ramos is one of the rare players who has shared the field with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the club level. He spent over a decade with Ronaldo at Real Madrid, where the duo helped the club win multiple Champions League and La Liga titles. In 2021, Ramos joined PSG, where he linked up with Messi following the Argentine’s high-profile move to the French club.
2. Ángel Di María.
Once again, another member of that golden U-20 Argentinean generation makes the list. This time, we’re talking about Ángel Di María, one of Messi’s closest and most beloved teammates and one of the leaders of his national team.
Di María joined Real Madrid after the 2010 World Cup and played a major part in the team until 2014. He helped Cristiano and Los Blancos win 1 UEFA Champions League, 2 La Liga, 2 Copa del Rey, and 2 Supercopa de España.
3. Andre Gomes.
André Gomes had the rare opportunity of playing with Ronaldo for Portugal and Messi during his stint at Barcelona. Despite facing criticism during his time at Barca, Gomes remained a solid midfielder who learned from both legends. His time with Portugal allowed him to see Ronaldo’s leadership in action, while at Barca, he witnessed Messi’s magic unfold. Gomes now plays for Lille in Ligue.
4. Deco
Deco had the privilege to playing with Ronaldo at the start of his career with Portugal and alongside Messi during his time at Barcelona. A midfield maestro, Deco witnessed Messi’s rise to greatness while being an established figure in a Barca team that won multiple La Liga titles. He also Played with Ronaldo in the Portuguese national team, Deco saw glimpses of the superstar Ronaldo would become.
5. Nelson Semedo.
Semedo played with Messi during his time at Barcelona and shares the pitch with Ronaldo for Portugal. His time at Barca saw him witness Messi’s brilliance up close, while his international career provides him with a front-row seat to Ronaldo’s legendary exploits with Portugal. He was part of the team who wins the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League for the Portuguese national team.
6. Gabriel Heinze.
Gabriel Heinze was once one of the most feared and respected center-backs in the world. His performances took him to Manchester United, where he shared the locker room with Cristiano Ronaldo for three years. They were also teammates for a couple of weeks at Real Madrid.
Heinze was one of the leaders of Argentina’s national team throughout his career, meaning he also played next to a surging Lionel Messi until his final cap in 2010.
7. Gerard Piqué.
Gerard Piqué spent the majority of his career at Barcelona, where he played with Messi for over a decade. However, earlier in his career, Piqué played with Ronaldo at Manchester United before moving to Barca. As one of the best center-backs of his generation, Piqué was a key figure in both Messi and Ronaldo’s success stories, having seen both thrive in their respective environments.
8. Henrik Larsson.
Henrik Larsson was at the tail end of his career when he played alongside Messi at Barcelona and Ronaldo at Manchester United. Despite his brief stints at both clubs, Larsson’s quality was undeniable. He scored crucial goals for Barca and United, making a lasting impact on the dressing room with his professionalism and experience.
9. Ezequiel Garay.
Garay had the distinction of playing alongside Messi at international level with Argentina and same time share some incredible moments with Ronaldo at Real Madrid. Known for his solid defending and composure on the ball, Garay was an essential part of the Argentine squad for several years. He wins the U-20 World Cup and the Olympic gold in 2008 with Messi. He spent time at Real Madrid when Ronaldo first joined the club in 2009. He was a part of Los Blancos from 2008-11, helping them win the Copa del Rey on his final season with the team.
10. Fernando Gago.
Fernando Gago has been teammates with Lionel Messi since his days at the U-20 Argentina national team. Together, they wonthe U-20 World Cup and, more importantly, the Olympic gold medal in 2008.
Gago also shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo during his days at Real Madrid. The Argentinean midfielder made 123 appearances for Los Blancos from 2007-12 but injuries derailed his promising career.
11. Carlos Tevez.
Carlos Tevez was one of the men in charge of Argentina’s offense before Lionel Messi broke out as a superstar. Some argue they weren’t a natural fit in the pitch but still played together in the 2010 World Cup and 3 Copa Americas.
Tevez’s also spend years with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United. He joined the team in 2007 until 2009 and won two Premier Leagues, 1 FA Cup, 1 Club World Cup, and 1 Community Shield.
12. Paulo Dybala.
Paulo Dybala is among one of the players who has expressed his difficulty in choosing between Messi and Ronaldo. Having played with Messi for Argentina and Ronaldo at Juventus, Dybala witnessed firsthand the brilliance of both players. Ronaldo’s remarkable 101 goals at Juventus were instrumental in Dybala’s admiration, though Messi’s leadership in leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 must have deepened his respect.
13. Lisandro Martinez.
Lisandro Martínez has the distinction of playing alongside Messi for the Argentine national team and Ronaldo at Manchester United. A versatile defender, Martínez has seen both legends up close—he was part of the Argentina squad that won the 2022 World Cup, with Messi leading the charge. Meanwhile, his first season at United saw him line up alongside Ronaldo during a challenging campaign for the Portuguese forward.
14. Achraf Hakimi.
Achraf Hakimi played with Ronaldo during his early days at Real Madrid. After developing into one of the best full-backs in the world, Hakimi moved to PSG, where he now shares the pitch with Messi.
15. Alejandro Garnacho.
Alejandro Garnacho is one of the newest players to play alongside both Messi and Ronaldo. The young winger, a rising star at Manchester United, made his breakthrough just as Ronaldo was entering his final season with the club. Garnacho has since had the opportunity to train and play with Messi for the Argentine national team, representing the future of Argentine football.
These players have witnessed greatness from two of football’s biggest legends up close. Whether sharing a locker room or lining up on opposite sides, their unique careers have been enriched by the privilege of playing with both Messi and Ronaldo.
16. Gonzalo Higuaín.
Gonzalo Higuaín has drawn plenty of criticism for some subpar performances with his national team. Even so, he’s been their starting striker for almost a decade now and has scored 31 goals in 75 caps. Most of them next to Lionel Messi.
Higuaín was also one of the world’s most prolific goal-scorers during his time with Real Madrid. He shared the locker room for 4 years with Cristiano before taking his talents to Italy.
.jpg)
.jpg)
