Gareth Bale settled Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi GOAT debate with controversial Champions League answer

Real Madrid legend Gareth Bale gave his verdict on the GOAT debate by answering a question on the greatest player ever to win the Champions League.

Bale himself has won the competition on five separate occasions with Real, playing a key role in the 2018 final against Liverpool.

The Welshman scored twice off the bench, including an incredible bicycle kick, to write himself into club folklore.

He also received a winners' medal in the 21/22 season as Los Blancos again defeated Liverpool in the final, but Bale played no part in the match despite being named in the squad.

Last season, he watched the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan from a different perspective, having retired from professional football in January following the 2022 World Cup.

Prior to the clash between City and Inter in Istanbul, Bale answered a series of questions from PlayStation - including who believes is the greatest player to win the Champions League.

The former forward lifted four of his five Champions League crowns alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portuguese legend also having five to his name after winning the 2008 final with Manchester United.

Despite media speculation, the Welshman stated in 2019 that he never had a problem with Ronaldo, and loved playing alongside him at the Bernabeu.

Bale formed a potent trio at Real with Ronaldo and Karim Benzema - the latter of whom has since left Madrid to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad.

When asked by PlayStation to name the best player to have won the Champions League, Bale did not pick any of his former team-mates. Instead, he opted for Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, who has won the competition four times.

• Best player to have ever won the UEFA Champions League?

Gareth Bale: “Messi.”

pic.twitter.com/HtcxQgyUKR

— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) June 10, 2023

He did take a few seconds to think about his answer, however, meaning there surely must have been several contenders. But his answer makes it clear as to who he believes the greatest winner of the famous trophy is.

It is unlikely that we will see Messi back in the Champions League anytime soon after he left PSG for Inter Miami this summer.

Gareth Bale was answering questions at PlayStation House.

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