Christian Pulisic stacks up favourably when compared to Messi and Ronaldo as teenagers. - © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA
Christian Pulisic stacks up favourably when compared to Messi and Ronaldo as teenagers. - © © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA

Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic goes for Lionel Messi in Messi/Ronaldo debate

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Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic has offered his tuppence worth to the Cristiano Ronaldo/Lionel Messi debate, indicating a slight preference for Barcelona's Argentinian superstar.

Speaking to ESPN's Raphael Honigstein, the 19-year-old said that, having idolised Messi as a child, the Barcelona forward would win his vote.

"Messi was the one I watched all the time growing up, he was my favourite player," said Pulisic. "He makes all his teammates better.

"Nothing against Ronaldo because I've seen it first hand and he's an unbelievable player. It's not an easy one [who is better], but I would say Messi because growing up he was always my favourite."

Pulisic has gone head to head with Ronaldo's Real Madrid four times. - © imago / Claus Bergmann

Although he has never played against Barcelona, Pulisic did face Messi in the semi-finals of the Copa America Centenario when Argentina beat the USA 4-0 on 21 June 2016. Following that game, both players were randomly called for a doping test, with Pulisic making the most of the occasion to take a selfie with his idol and posting it on Snapchat.

The Hershey, Pennsylvania native has come up against Ronaldo's Real Madrid four times, in the group stages of the 2016/17 and 2017/18 UEFA Champions League. The Portuguese forward's side have come out on top twice, with two draws.

When asked to tip who would follow in Messi's and Ronaldo's footsteps at the top of the world game, Pulisic turned to Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar.

Pulisic snapped a selfie with Messi after the USA played Argentina at the 2016 Copa America Centenario. - © Christian Pulisic

Then, asked if one day he felt he could be considered the best in the world, the teenager was more modest.

"Of course, that would be the dream," he said. "I've got a long way to go if I want to be anywhere close to that ... "We've played against certain players, [Kylian] Mbappe, even when Ousmane Dembele was with us, you can see some of the talents these guys have it is unbelievable.

"It's players like that I can learn from, playing with and playing against. It can only make me better so it's special to see something like that."

Watch: Click play on the video below to enjoy Pulisic's December Goal of the Month winner!

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