Ronaldinho refused to name Lionel Messi as the GOAT and claimed three players could be better

The debate around the greatest footballer of all time will likely never be decided conclusively, and Ronaldinho is fine with that, as he can't pick a winner.

For the last two decades, that particular contest has largely been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with the pair sharing the Ballon d'Or award almost exclusively since 2008 — Luka Modric and Karim Benzema are the only two players to break that trend.

With Messi's World Cup win in 2022, he seemingly confirmed himself to be the GOAT in the footballing world. However, Ronaldinho doesn't think the argument is quite so black and white.

Despite Messi's eight Ballon d'Or wins, four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga champion medals, and the various honours he has won with PSG and Argentina, too, it isn't enough to seal his status as the greatest to ever play the game.

That's the view of Ronaldinho, who told Marca: "I’m glad Messi won the Ballon d’Or. We were also friends during our time at Barcelona. But I don’t like to compare, and I find it difficult to say he is the best of all time."

Still, the former Brazil icon did suggest Messi is the greatest of his generation, putting him just ahead of Ronaldo.

Messi scored his 10th international hat-trick against Bolivia (Getty)

Looking at the bigger picture, though, Ronaldinho could not neglect some of the most impressive players of bygone eras.

He added: "There was Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo [Nazario]... it’s hard to say that Messi is the best throughout the history of football. I can only say he is the best of his era."

Both Diego Maradona and Pele are two of the most successful players and most talented individuals of the 20th Century. Brazil striker, Ronaldo, meanwhile, emerged as one of the most prolific and naturally gifted forwards of the 1990s and early 2000s.

United wanted Ronaldinho as a Beckham replacement (Getty)

Despite Ronaldinho's reluctance to pick him as the GOAT, Messi still has lots of respect for his former teammate.

The Argentina legend insists Ronaldinho was responsible for turning around the fortunes of Barcelona and making them a successful club once more.

Messi claims "Barca should always be grateful for everything [Ronaldinho] did," and praised the way the Brazilian brought happiness to the Nou Camp.