Balotelli: I have the same quality as Messi and Ronaldo
Martin Macdonald
- 2 Mar 2022 04:01 CST
- 5 min read
Mario Balotelli believes he has the same quality and skill level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but admits he cannot be compared to the superstar duo due to all they have achieved in the game.
Messi and Ronaldo are recognised as two of the greatest players in history, and between them have no less than 12 Ballon d'Or wins, as well as dozens and dozens of club trophies.
Balotelli, though recognised as a maverick player on his day, never really reached his potential as a footballer, with off-the-field antics and criticisms over his attitude never too far away from the Italian striker.
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He believes that, in terms of quality at least, he was as good as Messi and Ronaldo.
“I am not jealous. But I am 100 per cent sure that my quality is the same level as these people, but I… I missed some chances, you know? It happens," he told the Athletic.
“And nowadays, I cannot say I’m as good as Ronaldo, because Ronaldo won how many golden balls (Ballons d’Or)? Five? You cannot compare yourself to Messi and Ronaldo, nobody can.
"But if we’re talking about only quality, football quality, I have nothing to be jealous of them, to be honest.”
Regrets over Man City departure
Balotelli enjoyed one of the best spells of his career while at Manchester City in the Premier League.
He is still lauded by some City fans due to the part he played in the club's first ever Premier League victory, as it was his pass to Sergio Aguero on the last day of the season against Queens Park Rangers which led to one of the most famous moments in football history.
Things ended on a sour note for Balotelli at City, though, as he initially took the trub to a tribunal after being fined for a poor disciplinary record.
He eventually dropped the tribunal, but he would leave in January of 2012 for Milan.
The man himself admits it was a mistake to leave City.
“I think that was my biggest mistake, to leave City,” he continued.
“Even in the year when I left, I played very well in Milan for a year and a half, but after that, I had some problems. And now that I’m older, I know that I shouldn’t have left City at that time.
“All these years seeing City improving, improving and improving. I could have been here like Sergio Aguero for a long time.
“If I had my mindset now, when I was at City, probably one golden ball (Ballon d’Or) I could have won, I’m sure about this. But you know, when you grow up, you mature more."
After City, Balotelli went on to play for Milan, Liverpool, Nice, Marseille, Brescia Monza and now Adana Demirspor in Turkey.
