The GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) debate in soccer seems to always revolve around Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The latter has added more fire to the debate during an interview with El Chiringuito where Ronaldo said that no player is more complete than him.
Ever since Messi lifted the World Cup in 2022 many fans agreed that the Argentine is the indisputable GOAT of soccer. Ronaldo’s rebuttal comes in the form of statistics as the soon-to-be 40-year-old says that his numbers prove he’s the better player.
Ronaldo recently scored his 923rd career goal which is more than any player in history.
Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT debate take
"I'm talking about numbers. I think I'm the most complete player to have existed,” Ronaldo said.
“In my opinion, I think it's me. I do everything well in football: with my head, free kicks, left foot. I'm fast, I'm strong.”
CR7 went on to say that from the statistics standpoint no one can compete with him.
"One thing is taste. If you like Messi, Pelé, Maradona, I understand that and I respect that, but saying Ronaldo isn't complete... I'm the most complete.
“I haven't seen anybody better than me, and I say it from the heart."
Cristiano Ronaldo: “If I finish on 920, 925 goals… it doesn't matter to me at all. I AM THE BEST IN HISTORY. Period”.
“If I reach 1,000 goals, great. If not, that's fine too. Numbers don’t lie”, told Chiringuito. pic.twitter.com/6P2Xvza4ik— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 4, 2025
Fans had mixed reactions to Ronaldo’s claims with some admiring his confidence and others calling out his ego. The internet was quick to repost Messi’s response when asked if he thought he was the best player in the world following his record eighth Ballon d’Or.
Messi’s response was perhaps the exact opposite of Ronaldo’s.
Lionel, are you the best player in history?
Messi got an answer! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/kWqY7SVmuE— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 31, 2023
The opinions revolving around these two players are perhaps the most intense and vibrant in all of sports debates. While the arguments will surely live on long past Ronaldo and Messi’s retirements, one thing is for certain.
The biggest winners are us lucky fans who got the experience of watching two of the greatest athletes in history battle on the biggest stages for over two decades.
