Marcus Rashford was unable to give a definitive answer when asked to pick between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the debate over the game’s greatest. Put on the spot by ESPN, he opted for balance rather than a verdict. “I think it’s Messi and Ronaldo,” Rashford said with an uneasy smile creeping across his lips. “It’s difficult.”

In the same quick-fire sequence the England international praised both men’s strengths. Ronaldo earned the status of “best finisher of all time” while Messi was deemed to be the “best playmaker.” Rashford was clear that Messi remains “the greatest La Liga player of all time,” but he also refused to overlook Ronaldo when the discussion expanded beyond Spain’s top flight.

Rashford has previously described Ronaldo as an influence on his early development at Manchester United, recalling the Portuguese forward’s work ethic and ambition. “When Cristiano Ronaldo came to United, he was the one who everyone looked up to,” the boyhood Red Devils fan revealed shortly after breaking into the first team. “The thing that impressed me the most was the fact he was only young when he came into the side and he wanted to be the best player in the side. He worked hard every single day, you saw him in the gym every single day and the results came on the pitch. He openly wanted to be the best player in the world .

“You have to have an approach like that—all the best players in the world do. It’s not arrogance or anything like that, it’s the mindset you need to achieve things.”

There’s no suggestion that a member of Barcelona ’s media department were looming menacingly behind the camera during Rashford’s interview. Still, ex-Blaugrana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has spoken about internal pressure at Barcelona. He told Rio Ferdinand’s podcast back in 2023: “I remember that when I arrived in Barcelona they immediately asked me who the best player in the world was. I had to say it was Lionel Messi, I lied. It was one of the biggest lies of my life.”

Barcelona sporting director Deco has outlined why Marcus Rashford found a fresh start at Camp Nou after a difficult period at Manchester United. Deco said the England forward “suffered” early in his career at United and now “He’s happy with us,” Deco explained in an interview with The Times, hinting that Rashford had become the opposite with his life at United.

Rashford enjoyed a standout 2022–23 season under Erik ten Hag, becoming the only United player since Sir Alex Fergusion retired 10 years earlier to score 30 goals in a single season. The draft records that his form had otherwise been inconsistent since 2021, and he was pushed to the fringes by Ruben Amorim within weeks of the Portuguese coach’s appointment last November.

Rashford finished 2024–25 with Aston Villa and moved to Barcelona for the 2025–26 season on loan. The loan has produced an immediate impact: 17 goals and assists in 18 appearances so far. Deco highlighted Rashford’s adaptability as a key reason for signing him. “Marcus is a fantastic player. He faced the responsibility of becoming an important player at Man Utd—United, like us, are one of the biggest clubs in the world—too young. He suffered a bit with this change of generation at United too. If you see United in the last five years, they had difficulties rebuilding the team, to become stronger again. He was there. So, it’s not easy for a player [from whom] people demand a lot. When you are an important player, you have a lot of responsibility.”

Deco added: “We were looking for a player like him on the market. A player that could play in the three positions up front. We were able to sign Marcus on loan now because of his desire to play for Barcelona . He waited a lot. He knew that we were dealing with financial rules. But he was patient. He waited and we’re happy to have him.”

Aston Villa declined a £40 million option to sign Rashford permanently last season. Barcelona’s option is reportedly lower, at around £28 million, and is likely to expire when the loan ends on June 30. Deco suggested they are unlikely to decide on the option before the end of the season. Barcelona’s ongoing financial constraints and recent registration timing issues remain part of the background to the deal.

Two of the game’s most discussed teenagers met in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge in November, a fixture that sharpened comparisons between Lamine Yamal and Estêvão. After the match Enzo Maresca offered a bold outlook. “Probably in the next 10, 15 years, Estêvão and Lamine Yamal are probably going to be the next Messi and Ronaldo,” enthused the Italian.

To keep the comparison even, this analysis looks only at each player’s first 100 club appearances. Estêvão reached that milestone against Barça. Yamal arrived at his century on April 30 earlier this calendar year. Estêvão made 83 of his 100 appearances for Palmeiras and 17 since his move to Chelsea. Yamal’s entire century came for Barça, which is relevant when weighing output against the level of opposition.

In goals and minutes, Estêvão leads. He has 32 goals across those 100 matches, five of them in Chelsea blue, an average of about a goal every three games. That is notable given his role out wide rather than as a central striker. Yamal has 22 goals in his first 100 club appearances, roughly a goal every five games, but he offers more in creation. He supplied 27 assists in that period, nine more than Estêvão, regularly setting up team-mates such as Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.

On trophies, Yamal came out ahead. He had claimed three club trophies before his 100th appearance: the Copa del Rey, the Supercopa de España and La Liga, although his 2022–23 league title included only one appearance. He also clinched the 2024–25 La Liga crown just a few weeks after his club century. Yamal’s international success at Euro 2024 is noted separately from these club figures.

Estêvão’s honours from his first 100 club matches are two pieces of silverware: the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A in 2023 and the Campeonato Paulista the following year.

For context, Lionel Messi’s first 100 club games for Barça produced 41 goals, 14 assists and five club trophies including La Liga and the Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo reached 100 club appearances with Manchester United shortly before his 20th birthday and had 13 goals and 13 assists at that point. Both Yamal and Estêvão have clear strengths to build on as their careers continue.