Cristiano Ronaldo has weighed in on the ongoing debate about who deserves the title of the greatest football player of all time (GOAT), a conversation that inevitably includes his longtime rival, Lionel Messi.
For years, Ronaldo and Messi have dominated European football, amassing numerous titles, records, and individual accolades. Messi’s World Cup victory in Qatar further fueled the discussion, with many considering it a defining moment in his career.
Despite this, Ronaldo’s loyal fans continue to champion the Portuguese star, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, as the true GOAT.
Speaking about the row, Ronaldo downplayed the impact of the World Cup on his own legacy. “Even if I won the World Cup, this debate would continue. Some people like me more, others less. It’s like in life, some prefer blondes, others brunettes,” he said.
He continued: “I’ve always had to show what I can do year after year. I would love to win this tournament. I’m ambitious, but if you told me I wouldn’t win any more tournaments, I would still be happy with everything I’ve achieved. In the history books, all the other records will be there. But obviously a World Cup on the shelf wouldn’t be bad. It would be a dream.”
Both Ronaldo and Messi have since left European football. In January 2023, Ronaldo made his second exit from Manchester United to join Saudi Professional League side Al Nassr.
Following Ronaldo’s arrival in the Middle East, Saudi clubs began investing heavily to attract some of the biggest names in European football to the Saudi Professional League. Last summer, players such as Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, Fabinho and Neymar made multi-million dollar transfers.
Meanwhile, Messi left Paris Saint Germain in the summer of 2023 to join Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, co-owned by former England captain David Beckham. Messi was quickly joined by former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at Inter Miami.
