 "Lionel Messi opens up on 'GOAT' debate with fellow legend Cristiano Ronaldo: 'It's always been a great battle...'")
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stand out as two of the best footballers of their generation, and among the greatest to have ever played the ‘Beautiful Game’. The two began their senior careers in a span of a couple of years and would go on to share what is one of the greatest rivalries in sporting history. And choosing the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ (GOAT) between the two global superstars is among the most fiercely-debated topics in sport.
Ronaldo and Messi are two of the highest goal-scorers in football history – whether in international or club football or both. Portuguese legend Ronaldo, who has represented iconic clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus and currently plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, is currently ahead in terms of goal count – overall as well as the club and country categories.
Barcelona legend Messi, who has also represented Paris Saint-Germain and currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, leads Ronaldo when it comes to the awards – whether it’s the ‘Ballon d’or’ (8 to 5) or ‘The Best FIFA Men’s Player’ (3 to 2).
Messi also has what Portuguese icon Ronaldo has been chasing his entire career – the FIFA World Cup, helping Argentina win their third title in Qatar nearly three years ago.
Messi offers his take on his iconic rivalry with Ronaldo
Despite their intense rivalry that spanned more than a decade and had reached its zenith when Messi and Ronaldo were playing for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively in the LaLiga, the two retain a sense of mutual respect for one another.
And when asked for his personal opinion on his rivalry with Ronaldo and who the GOAT between the two really is, Messi retained that sense of respect for the 40-year-old, saying they both deserved credit for staying at the top for so long and being the architects of a “golden era”.
“It’s always been a great battle in sporting terms. I think we’ve fed off each other with this rivalry because we’re both great competitors. He too always wanted to win all the time,” Messi told France Football.
“It was a golden era for us and for every football fan. We deserve a lot of credit for staying at the top for so long. Because, as they say, it’s easy to get there but what’s difficult is staying there.
“We stayed at the top for ten, fifteen years. It was a spectacular and remains a great memory for everyone,” the 37-year-old added.
Messi and Ronaldo currently are in the twilight of their careers, and fans are hopeful of witnessing the two football titans share the pitch one last time, possibly in next year’s FIFA World Cup that will be co-hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada.
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