• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Cristiano Ronaldo's incredibly honest view on whether Lionel Messi has settled the GOAT debate for good

Home> Football> Football News

Published 14:04 6 Apr 2025 GMT+1

Cristiano Ronaldo's incredibly honest view on whether Lionel Messi has settled the GOAT debate for good

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend has spoken out about his rivalry with Messi.

Ben McCrum

Ben McCrum

Cristiano Ronaldo gave a refreshingly honest answer when asked if rival Lionel Messi has established himself as the greatest footballer of all time.

Ever since both Ronaldo and Messi established themselves as some of the best footballers of their generation, fans have compared the two players, labelling them two of the best to ever do it.

Across their careers, both men have won almost everything there is to win in football, including trophies for both club and country as well as individual honours.

Advert

However, there is one thing that Messi has done that his Portuguese rival is yet to accomplish, and Ronaldo has responded to claims that this one fact has settled the GOAT debate.

In 2022, Messi finally achieved his dream as he captained Argentina to glory in the World Cup in Qatar, lifting the coveted trophy that has evaded Ronaldo throughout his career.

Following Argentina's victory in the now-iconic World Cup final match with France, many fans claimed that Messi had settled the GOAT debate once and for all, but Ronaldo isn't so sure.

Advert

Speaking about the GOAT debate, Ronaldo played down the impact of potentially missing out on lifting the World Cup could have on his legacy.

Ronaldo said previously: "Even if I win the World Cup that will continue. Some people like me more, some less. It’s like in life, some like blondes, some like brunettes.

"I have always had to show what I can do year after year. I would love to win this tournament.

Lionel Messi won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022. (Image: Getty)
Lionel Messi won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022. (Image: Getty)

Advert

"I’m ambitious but if you tell me I won’t win any more tournaments I would still be happy given all I have won. In the history books, all other records will be there. But obviously, a World Cup on the shelf wouldn’t be bad. It would be a dream."

Ronaldo could have one more chance to lift the iconic World Cup trophy should he make Roberto Martínez's squad for the 2026 tournament which will be jointly hosted by 16 cities across the USA, Mexico and Canada.

However, with both Argentina and Brazil impressing at the Copa America and the likes of Spain, France and England establishing themselves as some of the top teams in the world at the Euro 2024, Portugal will head into the 2026 World Cup as sizeable underdogs.

Featured Image Credit: Getty/Cristiano

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Football, FIFA World Cup, Football World Cup

Ben McCrum
Ben McCrum

Ben is a sports journalist who specialises in football and MMA. He has written for publications such as Manchester Evening News, WiganToday, Manchester World and beIN Sports. Throughout his career he has interviewed top athletes in MMA including Tom Aspinall and Michael Bisping.

X

@benmcc14

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
11 hours ago
15 hours ago
  • 10 hours ago

    Erik ten Hag to get rid of Bayer Leverkusen player for the second time after selling him to the club while in charge of Man Utd

    Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag looks poised to get rid of the same player for two different clubs.

    Football
  • 11 hours ago

    Fans lose their minds and say 'announce Yamal' after Barcelona superstar spotted in Premier League club's shirt

    Lamine Yamal sent fans wild this week after being seen in an iconic English football shirt.

    Football
  • 11 hours ago

    Sir Alex Ferguson ripped into former Man Utd star for what he allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to do

    Sir Alex Ferguson lectured the former Manchester United player following the incident with Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Football
  • 15 hours ago

    Football legend reveals he was on the verge of signing for Man Utd after idolising Old Trafford star for years

    The player represented the likes of Barcelona, Inter and AC Milan during his career but never got the chance to play for Manchester United.

    Football
  • Top 10 sporting GOATs ranked with Michael Jordan only second on star-studded list
  • Lionel Messi settled the Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard debate by naming 'greatest ever' English player
  • The staggering amount it costs to hire Lionel Messi for the day compared to Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Marca rank the six greatest players of all time as Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT debate settled