Former Barcelona midfielder and manager Xavi compared Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar back in 2018, claiming the latter was the better player. The comments came after Real Madrid defeated Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the second leg of their Round-of-16 Champions League clash in 2018.

During a conversation with So Foot in 2018, Xavi stated that Ronaldo just scored a penalty and another goal with his knee, while Neymar created multiple chances in a 3-1 defeat for PSG. He said (via Hindustan Times):

“They said that Cristiano was still better than Neymar. No, no, it’s unfair. What did Ronaldo do in the game? He scored a penalty and a knee goal… But what about the dangerous situations created by Neymar? And the counter-attacks that he launched, the fear that he sowed in Madrid?”

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PSG were leading 1-0 in the game through Adrien Rabiot’s goal before Cristiano Ronaldo equalized for Real Madrid from the spot just before half time. The Portuguese scored another in the 83rd minute before Marcelo sealed the win for the Spanish giants in the 86th minute.

Los Blancos went on to win the competition that season, beating Liverpool 3-1 in the final.

When Cristiano Ronaldo took shots at Barcelona legend Xavi

Cristiano Ronaldo was not happy with Xavi’s claim in 2016 that Lionel Messi would always be the better player than the Portuguese star. He hit back at the Barcelona legend, saying the opinion of a player who left to play in Qatar did not matter to him. He said (via SportBible):

“Yesterday I saw that the most searched for player on the internet is me. So when a player or manager want to appear on front cover of newspaper they speak about me. It’s normal, I’m like a promotion. What does it matter to me what Xavi says? Xavi plays in Qatar or used to, I don’t know. He has no relevance. What do you want me to tell you? He’s won everything but he’s never won a Ballon d’Or. I have three. So I don’t care what he says.”

He also commented on players leaving Europe for a career in the Middle East and MLS in 2015, saying on the Jonathan Ross show (via SportBible):

“In my mind I want to finish in the top level. I want to finish with dignity so in a good club. It doesn’t mean that to go USA or Qatar or Dubai is not good but I don’t see myself [going].”

Cristiano Ronaldo left Europe to play for Al Nassr in 2022 after his contract at Manchester United was terminated.