Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Coach who defeated both Argentina and Portugal names the greatest player

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both led Argentina and Portugal, respectively, to significant success throughout their professional careers, and they continue to do so to this day. However, they have also suffered painful defeats, and a former coach who handed both of them losses has weighed in on who he considers the greatest player of all time.

Oscar Washington Tabarez served as head coach of the Uruguay national team for many years, leading them to four World Cups and seven Copa America tournaments. This gave him the chance to face some of the best players in the world, including Lionel Messi on numerous occasions. “He’s a great player, one of the best we’ve ever seen in the history of soccer. I don’t want to elaborate further because it would be redundant,” he said in 2012, when Leo was just 25 years old.

Three years later, before the Copa America in Chile, Tabarez commented: “There will be no other player at the Copa America who will be at Messi’s level. He is one of the players who makes soccer history with his great individual skills in service to the team.”

And in 2018, before the FIFA World Cup in Russia, the coach gave an interview to La Nacion where he made Messi’s status clear: “He has already defined an era in soccer,” said Tabarez, who then considered Lionel to be “the best in the world.” He concluded: “I don’t align myself with those who say he lacks something to be considered a true legend.”

Former Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez.

Tabarez’s key victory against Messi

In the 11 encounters that Lionel Messi had against Uruguay during Oscar Tabarez’s tenure as coach, Argentina won 7 times, with two draws and two losses. But undoubtedly, the most significant matchup ended in a win for Uruguay.

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In the 2011 Copa America, Messi’s only tournament played on Argentine soil, the two teams met in the quarterfinals. It was a 1-1 draw, with goals from Diego Perez and Gonzalo Higuain (assisted by Messi). However, Uruguay prevailed in the penalty shootout, eliminating Argentina and eventually going on to win the title.

Tabarez also faced Cristiano Ronaldo

During the 2018 World Cup, Uruguay faced Portugal in the Round of 16. Before the match, the obvious question for Tabarez was how he planned to neutralize Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the Uruguay coach remained confident: “Cristiano doesn’t keep us up at night.”

Still, Tabarez acknowledged CR7’s strengths: “Cristiano Ronaldo is in the elite; he has immense potential, but it’s about planning the match against the opponent. Cristiano is the leader of the team on the field,” said the coach.

Tabarez’s strategy proved successful, as Uruguay secured a crucial 2-1 victory in that match, with two goals from Edinson Cavani. Cristiano Ronaldo was on the field but was unable to make a difference, and his team was eliminated in the Round of 16.