Said Martinez is one of the best referees in Honduras and was chosen to officiate at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and the 2023 Gold Cup final between Mexico and Panama. The 32-year-old “King in Black” has also officiated matches involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Speaking on AS, Martinez expressed his thoughts about two great soccer superstars: ” They have two completely different personalities , but they are both excellent players, I don’t think anyone is more outstanding than the other. Lionel Messi is a bit calmer than Cristiano Ronaldo, he is a player who is very focused on playing football and thinks about the game more than anything else.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo shows off more than Messi but of course there is still respect for the referee. Being a referee and refereeing matches with their presence is definitely a privilege that anyone would want. Seeing two superstars score from a free kick is something I will never forget .”
The Honduran referee added: ” With Messi, we shook hands before the match. I greeted him and he thanked me. At the end of the match, I also remember that when everyone chanted his name, he came to shake my hand, I will always remember that moment,
With Ronaldo, I remember him complaining to me because I didn’t recognize the goal. He doesn’t even believe in VAR. Before the second half started, I called him over and let him know that I didn’t like the way he was approaching me. He admitted he was wrong and agreed with me. He then concentrated on playing and scored a phenomenal goal from a free kick, helping his team win “.
Cristiano Ronaldo ends 2023 as the world’s top scorer in a calendar year (54 goals in 50 appearances). On the other hand, Lionel Messi has scored 28 goals in 44 appearances. Of “El Pulga’s” 28 goals, 11 came in Inter Miami colors.
Despite scoring more goals than M10, CR7 did not make it into the ranking of the 10 best players of 2023 voted annually by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS). Manchester City star Erling Haaland took top spot while Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi ranked second and third respectively.
