Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez believes the key difference between Lionel Messi and Brazilian stars Neymar and Ronaldinho was their mentality, arguing that the latter two gradually lost their hunger for further success after achieving major honours.
All three enjoyed outstanding spells at Barcelona and possessed extraordinary footballing talent. Ronaldinho captivated audiences with his magical skills, while Neymar was widely regarded as a potential successor to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, neither Brazilian managed to sustain the same level of dominance that Messi maintained throughout much of his career.
Xavi, who played alongside both Ronaldinho and Messi at Barcelona, believes the decline in the Brazilians’ performances was not primarily about their lifestyles away from football. Instead, he points to a gradual loss of ambition after reaching the pinnacle of the sport.
Ronaldinho enjoyed the finest period of his career at Barcelona, where his creativity, exceptional dribbling and entertaining style made him one of the most admired footballers in the world. He won the Ballon d’Or in 2005 and helped Barcelona secure major honours, including the Champions League in 2006.
Despite those achievements, his time at the highest level did not last as long as many had anticipated. His lifestyle, particularly his reputation for partying, often attracted public attention. However, Xavi believes there was a more fundamental explanation for his decline.
Having shared the dressing room with Ronaldinho, the former Barcelona midfielder had first-hand experience of the Brazilian’s approach to the game. In his view, winning major domestic and European trophies, alongside the Ballon d’Or, may have reduced Ronaldinho’s desire to pursue further achievements.
Speaking in an interview, Xavi said: “I think it was a mentality problem. Ronaldinho had won everything. La Liga and the Champions League with Barcelona, as well as the Ballon d’Or individually. Afterwards, perhaps he thought, ‘Right, I have achieved everything.'”
Xavi also highlighted the contrast between Ronaldinho’s attitude and Messi’s relentless ambition. According to the former Spain international, Messi never allowed his achievements to make him complacent. Instead, every success motivated him to set fresh targets and continue improving.
Comparing the two players, Xavi said: “If you compare him with Leo (Messi), Ronaldinho’s mentality was perhaps, ‘My job is done.’ But Messi always wanted more. He kept moving forward and never stopped. It was about mentality, not partying.”
Messi’s career illustrates the point. During his time at Barcelona, the Argentine won numerous domestic and European titles, alongside multiple Ballon d’Or awards. His achievements continued beyond club football, with Argentina’s Copa America triumph in 2021 and World Cup victory in 2022 further strengthening his reputation.
Xavi believes Neymar experienced a similar situation to Ronaldinho, despite enjoying considerable success during his Barcelona career.
Neymar joined Barcelona in 2013 and developed into one of the club’s most influential attacking players. Alongside Messi and Luis Suarez, he formed the celebrated attacking trio known as MSN, which became one of the most formidable forward lines in European football.
The trio played a decisive role in Barcelona’s historic 2014-15 campaign, when the club won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Neymar was particularly influential, scoring in the Champions League final against Juventus as Barcelona completed the treble.
His performances led many observers to regard him as a future contender for the position of world football’s leading player.
However, in 2017, Neymar left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a record-breaking €222 million transfer. The move gave him an opportunity to establish himself as the central figure at another major European club, rather than continuing to play alongside Messi.
Although Neymar produced several outstanding individual performances in Paris, injuries and inconsistent availability affected his ability to maintain regular momentum. He won domestic trophies with PSG but could not deliver the Champions League title that the club had been seeking.
Xavi sees parallels between Neymar’s career and Ronaldinho’s experience, suggesting that the Brazilian forward also struggled to maintain the same level of ambition after enjoying significant success at Barcelona.
Speaking about Neymar, he said: “The same thing happened with Neymar. He had a wonderful time at Barcelona, and we won the Champions League together. Then he signed for PSG. In this case, too, I think it was related to mentality.”
Xavi also referred to Cristiano Ronaldo when discussing the qualities required to remain at the highest level for an extended period. In his assessment, both Messi and the Portuguese forward have maintained an extraordinary competitive mentality despite winning almost every major individual and team honour available to them.
Their careers have been defined by a constant desire to improve, set new records and achieve further success. Even as they have grown older, both have continued to adapt their approach to the game while remaining determined to compete at the highest level.
Xavi believes problems emerge when players recognise that their competitive mentality is no longer as strong as it once was.
He said: “When you realise that your mentality is declining, that you no longer have the same mentality as before and that you are no longer the same player, that is when problems begin. Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, for example, have never experienced that. They are both absolute monsters.”
Xavi’s assessment highlights the importance of mentality in a sport where natural talent alone cannot guarantee long-term success. Ronaldinho and Neymar both enjoyed extraordinary careers and produced moments of brilliance that will remain part of football history.
Yet, in Xavi’s view, Messi and Ronaldo demonstrated something beyond exceptional technical ability: an unwavering determination to keep winning even after reaching the summit of the game.
For players seeking to establish a lasting legacy, that continued hunger for success can make all the difference between enjoying a few exceptional seasons and remaining among the world’s best for an entire generation.
