Lionel Messi is 'ABOVE' Cristiano Ronaldo in GOAT debate, only one player can now compete with him

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi is now “above” Al Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and only one player in history now stands next to him, according to Joe Cole.

Ronaldo and Messi have often been pitted against one another in the so-called ‘GOAT debate’ to determine the best player in the history of the sport.

Messi’s glittering playing career at club level saw him forever etch his name in the history books at Barcelona, with the Argentine winning a club-record 35 trophies.

The 35-year-old forward’s silverware cabinet at the Camp Nou included a whopping 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and seven Copa del Reys.

Messi has also silenced his harshest critics on the international stage after his triumphs with Argentina at the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner inspired his native country to the World Cup title in Qatar with an exhilarating penalty shootout win over 2018 champions France.

Messi has shown little desire to call it time on his international or club playing career, despite establishing himself as one of the finest players in the history of the sport.

The Barcelona legend was in action for PSG in their 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday in the first-leg last-16 Champions League tie at the Parc des Princes.

Ahead of PSG’s Champions League defeat, Cole appeared on a BT Sport panel to discuss the hotly debated topic surrounding the GOAT of football.

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The BT Sport pundit believes that Messi is the best player of all time, with Brazil legend Pele being the only player who could challenge him in the GOAT debate.

When asked by BT Sport presenter Seema Jaswal if Messi had achieved GOAT status and if there was still any room for a debate, Cole said: “There’s always the debate because it’s always going to be about what you think.

“I think what [Messi] has put to bed, though, is the debate of this generation, because he’s gone and completed it now, he’s won everything in the game.”

He added: “I’ve never seen a player like him, what he can do with the ball, his ability, his personality -- everything. And it’s just a joy to watch him every time.

“I think he’s the greatest player of all time. Pele is the only one who can have an argument in that case.

“I don’t think CR7 or R9 [Ronaldo Nazario] or [Diego] Maradona -- I think he’s gone above them. He stands next to Pele now.”