Arsenal legend, Emmanuel Petit, has defended football icons, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, amid recent criticisms of the duo.

Messi, 35, and Ronaldo, 38, have dominated world football over the course of the past two decades and have won plenty of trophies.

However, the duo have come in for criticism recently due to their career decisions.

Many have argued that Ronaldo wrongfully chose to head to the Saudi Pro League to join Al Nassr a few months ago, while Messi has drawn the ire of supporters for opting not to sign an extension with PSG.

However, Petit has defended both Messi and Ronaldo by claiming that no one can tell them what to do at the end of their careers.

According to him, both Ballon d’Or winners should be allowed to make whatever decision suits them, adding that they have nothing left to prove.

“Messi and Ronaldo have lit up football for 20 years,” Petit told French outlet Rothen s’enflamme.

“You can’t tell these players what to do at the end of their career when they have nothing left to prove.”