sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and other legends ranked in controversial list with only one named GOAT
Home>Football>Football News
Updated 12:51 12 Jan 2024 GMTPublished 12:52 12 Jan 2024 GMT

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and other legends ranked in controversial list with only one named GOAT

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ranked in controversial list that has got fans online talking.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

A controversial graphic ranking Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and other football legends has sparked outrage on social media.

Messi and Ronaldo have been ranked in a list with only ONE named as the GOAT.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, Neymar and Karim Benzema, who are also still active, join Messi and Ronaldo in the controversial list.

Not to mention the likes of Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Gareth Bale, as well as the late Pele and Diego Maradona.

Advert

The 17 players that are included in the list are ranked in five different categories, with Messi being hailed as the GOAT.

Ronaldo, Maradona, Pele and Johan Cruyff are ranked as legends.

The World Class category sees Zidane, Ronaldinho, Henry and Luis Suarez enter the list.

Andres Iniesta, Bale, Benzema and Lewandowski make up the iconic players category.

Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Franck Ribery and Salah are listed as great players.



pic.twitter.com/6FRwrXKW02

— Out Of Context Football (@nocontextfooty) January 11, 2024

Needless to say, the controversial list sent social media into overdrive as fans made their feelings clear online.

They couldn't believe some of the rankings and fumed at the exclusion of Brazil legend Ronaldo.

One X user wrote: "Suarez has 7 seasons with 22+ goals. Benzema has 12 seasons with 22+ goals. Why is Mr. 0 UCL away goals in 8 years so high up?"

A second exclaimed: "Putting Neymar in the same bracket as Salah is honestly embarrassing."

A third added: "No R9 lol. Lewandowski is Iconic but not Neymar or Zlatan? This graphic sucks."

A fourth said: "Bale is the definition of a moments player. How he gets rated on these lists, let alone this high, is such a testimony to how media and hype driven players can be."

A fifth commented: "Just destroy the last two rows cause no way is Lewandowski over Neymar."

Another weighed in: "Nobody is going to be talking about Lewandowski 20 years from now while Neymar’s imprint on the game will live forever."

Featured Image Credit: Getty/X

Topics: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Fan Reactions

Nasir Jabbar
Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

X

@NasJabbar

Recommended reads

Thierry Henry on his ‘big brother’ France teammate, biggest influence and the discipline that defines himGetty Images'He battered me for it' - Lionel Messi's shirt ended up with ex England star Jack Wilshere after teammate assistGettyThree England stars disagree on the one player from another nation who England needGetty & SPORTbibleTommy Fury disagrees with Tyson's 'no choice' claim as he reveals why he doesn't want his children to boxGetty Images

Advert

  • Cristiano Ronaldo shouts seven words and walks away after being asked Lionel Messi question
  • Donald Trump snubs Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when naming his footballing GOAT
  • Why Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi lost millions of Instagram followers
  • Cristiano Ronaldo made 'secret phone call' to Lionel Messi over leaked Ballon d'Or result

Choose your content:

26 mins ago
an hour ago
  • Getty Images
    26 mins ago

    Iran players leave handwritten note in dressing room after match against Egypt

    Iran came from behind to hold Group G opponents Egypt to a 1-1 draw.

    Football
  • Getty
    an hour ago

    Why Iran fans booed and turned their back during national anthem against Egypt at World Cup

    Some Iran fans booed the national anthem against Egypt

    Football
  • Getty
    an hour ago

    Man City immediately move for World Cup star after sealing Elliot Anderson deal

    Man City are moving moves in the transfer market

    Football
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    England's round of 32 opponents and every World Cup knockout game as things stand

    England have qualified for the World Cup knockout stages ahead of their clash against Panama on Saturday.

    Football