Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited the GOAT debate, confidently rejecting claims that Lionel Messi is the better player and dismissing criticism from former teammate Wayne Rooney.
Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited the long-running debate over football’s greatest player, rejecting claims that Lionel Messi surpasses him in talent or legacy.
In a preview of his upcoming interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, the Al-Nassr forward was asked whether Messi is better than him. The Portuguese star replied confidently, “Messi better than me? I don’t agree with that opinion. I don’t want to be humble.”
The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has divided fans for more than a decade, with both players now in the final stages of their illustrious careers, Ronaldo chasing titles in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr and Messi playing for Inter Miami in the U.S. Major League Soccer.
Ronaldo also addressed past remarks from his former Manchester United teammate, Wayne Rooney, who has publicly said he prefers Messi. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner responded, “It doesn’t bother me at all.”
The upcoming interview, which follows their explosive 2022 conversation that led to Ronaldo’s exit from Manchester United, is expected to reignite global debate over football’s most enduring question: between Messi and Ronaldo, who is truly the greatest of all time?