“I am a playmaker” – When De Bruyne offered sensible answer on whether he would rather play with Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne provided a balanced response when asked who he'd prefer to share the pitch with—Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

The Belgium international expressed a distinct leaning towards Ronaldo, citing the latter's exceptional qualities as a traditional forward. Why Ronaldo over Messi? De Bruyne revealed that Ronaldo, who provides an attacking presence in the box, would complement the Belgian's style of play. Conversely, Messi, who is an orchestrator at heart, could potentially cramp De Bruyne's creative territory.

The Belgian playmaker revealed (via SportBible):

"I would probably say Ronaldo because he’s more of a typical striker. Messi is still more of a playmaker. I am a playmaker, you can give me a striker."

De Bruyne has been the engine behind Manchester City's formidable attack, especially with a scoring machine like Erling Haaland by his side. Thanks to the Belgian's 16 league assists, Haaland's debut season in the Premier League was nothing short of electrifying, boasting 36 Premier League goals.

It's this synergy with a striker that De Bruyne relishes, a reason he believes Ronaldo would be a better fit alongside him. De Bruyne has faced off against both legends at the club and international levels, and it's with this first-hand experience that he has tipped the scales in Ronaldo's favor.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been football's glittering jewels for over a decade and a half, chalking up mind-boggling numbers. The duo has notched up an astonishing cumulative 79 trophies and a dozen Ballons d'Or.