Sporting Giants - Messi v Ronaldo: 1. Nature v Nuture
Download Messi v Ronaldo: 1. Nature v Nuture
In the first episode of this four-part series, Steve Crossman and Guillem Balague explore what made Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stand out as they began their journeys to becoming footballing icons.
From playing on the streets in Argentina and Portugal, to the bright lights of Barcelona and Manchester United, in this episode we discover how Messi and Ronaldo began to stand out as a new footballing rivalry was formed which would dominate the game for the next two decades.
We hear from Messi's former academy team mate Cesc Fabregas on the development of a young superstar after making the move as a teenager from Rosario to Barcelona, while Rio Ferdinand describes his first impressions of an 18-year-old Ronaldo after he came to the world's attention at Old Trafford
Published on Friday, 5th June 2026.
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