Cristiano Ronaldo just threw fresh fuel on football’s biggest debate, the GOAT question. In a new interview preview with Piers Morgan, the Al-Nassr superstar made it clear he doesn’t buy into the idea that Lionel Messi is a better footballer than him. Ronaldo’s bold take has already sent the internet into meltdown. The statement has divided fans right down the middle ahead of the full interview’s release on November 4.
Cristiano Ronaldo speaks on if Messi is superior than him in an interview preview
In a preview clip from the interview, Cristiano Ronaldo faces the question that’s followed him his entire career: Is Lionel Messi actually better than him? Without any hesitation, the Portuguese icon answers, “Messi better than me? I don’t agree with that opinion. I don’t want to be humble.”
Ronaldo also responded to old comments from his former Manchester United player, Wayne Rooney, who once called Messi “the best ever.” But CR7 didn’t lose any sleep over it. He simply shrugged it off, saying Rooney’s opinion doesn’t pose a problem for him.
Funny enough, Rooney has since walked that back a bit, saying, “People think I hate him! I love him! I think he’s an absolute genius; what he’s doing is incredible. I don’t think people realize how close he and I were. ” He added, “Just because I’ve said Messi is better than Ronaldo, people think I don’t like Cristiano. What he’s doing. To be honest, over the last couple of years, I’m thinking, ‘Do you know what?’, he’s probably gonna be the one when you look back, Cristiano, because he keeps going.” (via Goal)
For almost 20 years, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated modern football, not just with inhuman statistics, but by fueling one of the biggest rivalries the sport has ever seen. The never-ending “GOAT debate” has split fans, pundits, and even players right down the middle since the late 2000s. Their rivalry reached its breaking point during their time in La Liga.
Ronaldo ruled Real Madrid while Messi dominated almost every game for Barcelona. Between them, they’ve won multiple Ballon d’Ors, a pile of league titles, and Champions League trophies.
While Messi finally checked the World Cup off his bucket list with Argentina in 2022, Ronaldo is yet to do so. However, he has led Portugal to major silverware, winning the 2016 Euros and the 2019 Nations League.
Even with both legends in the twilight of their careers, Messi playing for Inter Miami in the U.S. and Ronaldo for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, the GOAT debate continues. However, we’ll find out what Ronaldo thinks about it once the full interview is released.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
