US President Donald Trump snubbed both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when he was asked to choose the greatest footballer of all time, instead picking another legendary figure of the game.
Ronaldo and Messi have 13 Ballon d'Or crowns between them after dominating football during the late 2000s and the 2010s.
Ronaldo's career has spanned spells at Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, the latter of whom he still plays for to this day.
The 40-year-old has 800 goals in 1,062 club games and has won league titles in England, Spain and Italy, while he also has five Champions League crowns from his time with United and Real.
Advert
Ronaldo has also won silverware with Portugal including the European Championships and two UEFA Nations League titles, the most recent of which was claimed this summer following victory over Spain.
Messi's career has spanned spells at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and now Inter Miami.
Messi has won the Champions League on four occasions - all with Barca - while he has won multiple league titles in both Spain and France.
The 38-year-old has also claimed silverware with Argentina, including two Copa America titles and the World Cup back in 2022 after a victory on penalties after extra-time over France.
Advert
Messi's club tally stands at 771 goals in 951 games and counting so far.
Messi now plies his trade in America in the MLS with Inter Miami, and the country has just finished playing host to the FIFA Club World Cup, which Chelsea won after beating PSG 3-0 in the final over the weekend.
It is ahead of the USA co-hosting the World Cup next year along with Canada and Mexico.
Donald Trump names his pick for football's GOAT
US President Trump was asked by broadcaster DAZN who he feels is the greatest footballer of all-time.
Advert
And instead of naming Ronaldo or Messi, as many would do, he instead chose Brazil legend Pele as the sport's GOAT, in his view.
He said: "Many years ago, when I was young, they brought a player named Pele to play, and he played for a team called the Cosmos.
"He was the inspiration we had, and this place was packed. It was an earlier version of this stadium, but right here in the Meadowlands, and it was Pele.
"I don't want to date myself, but that was a long time ago. I was a young guy, and I came to watch Pele and he was fantastic. And I would I'd say, probably I'll go old fashioned.
Advert
"That's like saying Babe Ruth, but I would say Pele was so great."
Pele - born Edson Arantes do Nascimento - spent most of his club playing career with Santos in his native Brazil, before a spell with the New York Cosmos.
But it was his exploits with Brazil which captured the imagination of football fans worldwide with 77 goals in 92 appearances for the South American country.
The forward helped inspire his nation to three World Cup titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and he passed away at the age of 82 in December 2022.
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Donald Trump, Lionel Messi, Pele, Football
John McDougall