Value for money
Lionel Messi arrived at Barcelona at the age of 13 and swiftly made a name for himself in the club’s youth and academy sides before be handed his debut in October 2004, the following May he became the club’s youngster ever La Liga goal-scorer and the rest, as they say, is history.
Whilst Barcelona did not have to pay a fee for the youngster they did of course have to foster that talent from a very early age but have of course been repaid in a very big way!
Real Madrid may have forked out a world record £80m fee to bring in Ronaldo from Man United but such has been the Portuguese star’s success since that 2009 move that such an outlay still looks like a bargain.
When the Bernabeu side spent the sum to bring in the attacker from Old Trafford they did so knowing exactly what they were paying for. A player who had already more than proven himself to be a world-beater, a Balon d’Or and Champions League winner and a player who has subsequently delivered in a very big way in the Spanish capital.
Lionel Messi 10/10
Cristiano Ronaldo 9/10