In an exclusive interview with former England defender Rio Ferdinand, Casemiro opened up about his career, his time at Real Madrid, and the challenge of facing Lionel Messi. The Brazilian midfielder surprised fans by naming Gareth Bale as the most complete player he ever shared the pitch with, while placing Cristiano Ronaldo in a separate, unmatched category.
“That player is the most complete of my career. Cristiano scores goals, at least 15 a season. But Bale attacks, defends, heads the ball, scores, takes free kicks. Cristiano is the best—he’s in a league of his own. Take Cristiano out of the conversation. For me, Bale is the best and the most complete,” Casemiro said during the program.
When Ferdinand asked if that choice still held given Casemiro had also played alongside Ronaldinho and Neymar, the midfielder stood firm, highlighting Bale’s defensive contributions.
“Yes, definitely. Because he attacks, defends, heads the ball, and takes free kicks. He does everything very well and very quickly. He’s incredibly strong. For me, Bale is an unbelievable player. Neymar doesn’t defend—he’s a different type of player. But Bale, at his best, was the top,” he explained.
Casemiro also pointed to Bale’s ability to deliver in big moments as a key reason for his assessment.
“He scored great goals in Copa finals and Champions League finals. He scored twice against Liverpool and against Atlético Madrid in the final,” Casemiro recalled.
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Bale in action for Real Madrid
When discussing Lionel Messi, Casemiro admitted he avoided provoking the Argentine on the pitch. He revealed a cautious approach, immediately apologizing after tough tackles to keep Messi calm.
“I played against Messi, and I swear, I didn’t talk much, I didn’t provoke him, because I didn’t want to make him angry. I would make a tackle and immediately say, ‘sorry, sorry, sorry,’ because it’s impossible to stop him. You’d see Barcelona not playing well, then Messi would come in, score two goals, and solve everything. He and Cristiano are from another world,” the midfielder concluded.
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Real Madrid beat Barcelona twice in the 2020/21 season
Casemiro also touched on his respect for Messi and the intensity of El Clásico. The interview covered various aspects of his career, including his time with the Brazilian national team and the bond he shared with former Real Madrid teammates.
