Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has shared his thoughts on the Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi “GOAT” debate, and he didn’t hold back.
In sports, fans constantly debate who the “greatest of all time” is, with legends like Michael Schumacher, Muhammad Ali, and Tiger Woods often considered the best in their fields.
But when it comes to football, determining the greatest isn’t easy, as fans worldwide are divided over who takes the crown between Ronaldo and Messi, both strong contenders. ..Continue Reading
Now, former England and United star Ferdinand has offered his perspective on who should hold the title of the best footballer, and he didn’t hesitate.
In a 2021 interview on the TNT Sports YouTube channel, Ferdinand was asked to share his view on which of the two he believes deserves the “GOAT” status.
The former defender replied: “Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi? I feel that we should just enjoy them. They’re here, we’re blessed to be a part of this generation that can sit and watch them and play against, I was fortunate enough to do that.
“And they’re different players to me. One is just an out and out goalscorer and one of them is more involved in the game.
“I think Messi is the one who likes to get involved in the game and can play the final pass but also his numbers in terms of goals are ridiculous.
“And Cristiano is just obsessed with scoring goals and being the person that decides the match.”
Over his remarkable 21-year career, Lionel Messi has scored an astounding 849 goals and provided 378 assists in 1,080 games for both club and country.
In comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo has netted 908 goals and registered 255 assists in 1,249 matches throughout his 22-year career.
Although Ronaldo has scored more goals overall, Messi actually boasts a higher goals-per-minute ratio than his Portuguese counterpart.
Both players have achieved more Ballon d’Or awards than any other footballer, with Messi winning an impressive eight—the latest in 2023—and Ronaldo earning five.
Messi also holds the record for the most consecutive Ballon d’Or wins, with four straight titles from 2009 to 2012. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has the record for the most Ballon d’Or nominations, being shortlisted an incredible eighteen times.
