Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? World Cup hero with Uruguay names his favorite soccer player

The two dominant stars of soccer in recent years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have been at the center of most GOAT discussions. Now, a World Cup hero with the Uruguay National Team has joined the debate, picking his favorite between Leo and CR7, while also stating that another player is, in his opinion, the greatest of all time.

In an interview with TNT Sports, Sebastian Washington Abreu was asked about who he thinks is the best player of this generation. “Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? This one’s easy. There’s no complication,” began the former striker, before confidently answering: “Messi.”

The Uruguay legend then explained why he holds Lionel’s abilities in such high regard. “If I had played alongside Messi, I’d have 800 goals by now,” he joked. “But I have 400 goals, and I’m probably exaggerating,” he added.

However, his estimate isn’t far off: at the club level, Abreu scored an impressive 404 goals in his career. Additionally, he netted 31 more for the Uruguay National Team between 1996 and 2012.

Abreu playing with Uruguay during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Regarding the Inter Miami star, Sebastian finally said: “You have to enjoy Messi.” And, considering he’s Uruguayan and his team is often a rival to Argentina, he made it clear that despite the rivalries, it’s worth admiring Leo’s talent. “First, you have to enjoy facing the best player in the world,” he stated.

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Abreu picks the greatest player of all time

Despite his appreciation for Lionel Messi’s talent and his enjoyment in watching him play, Sebastian Abreu didn’t hesitate to mention another Argentine player as his all-time favorite. “The best of all time,” he said about Diego Armando Maradona, following the Napoli legend’s passing in 2020.

Additionally, Abreu has an interesting connection to Diego: Before retiring in 2021, the Uruguayan star was the last active player to ever face Maradona in an official match. They had been opponents in a game between Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo in 1997, Maradona’s final year as a professional player.

Who is Sebastian Abreu?

Abreu is globally recognized for two significant aspects of his career. First, for his key role in the 2010 South Africa World Cup, where he scored a Panenka-style penalty in the shootout against Ghana, sending Uruguay to the semifinals of that tournament, marking a historic achievement.

The other reason Abreu is remembered is his place in the Guinness World Records as the player who played for the most clubs in soccer history. In total, he represented 32 teams between 1994 and 2021, with some of the most notable being Nacional, Deportivo La Coruña, River Plate, Real Sociedad, and Club America.