Debates about the greatest athlete of all time span across sports, with legends like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Tom Brady often pitted against their contemporaries. ..Continue Reading
In football, the battle for the GOAT title typically comes down to Messi and Ronaldo. Both have exceptional records and loyal supporters backing their claims to the crown.
However, Ferguson — a Premier League legend himself — is convinced that one factor sets his choice apart from the other.
Ferguson managed Ronaldo during his time at Manchester United, where the Portuguese forward played 291 matches, scored 118 goals, and lifted nine trophies under the Scotsman’s leadership.
Ronaldo later reached new heights with other top clubs, while Messi’s brilliance was largely showcased during his long career at Barcelona, where he made 778 appearances, netted 672 goals, and collected 35 major trophies.
Still, Ferguson is firm in his belief that Ronaldo edges Messi out due to one defining quality.
Speaking back in 2015, as per the Manchester Evening News, the Man United legend said: “People say who is the best player in the world? And plenty of people quite rightly say Messi – you can’t dispute that opinion.
“But Ronaldo could play for Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers, anyone, and score a hat-trick in a game.
“I’m not sure Messi could do it. Ronaldo’s got two feet, he’s quick, great in the air, he’s brave – Messi’s brave, of course. I think Messi’s a Barcelona player.”
One of the strongest points raised by supporters of Cristiano Ronaldo in the GOAT debate is his consistent success across three of Europe’s top leagues, both in terms of winning trophies and scoring goals.
During his time in La Liga, Ronaldo netted a remarkable 311 goals in 292 games for Real Madrid. He later continued his goal-scoring form in Serie A, finding the back of the net 81 times in 98 matches for Juventus.
Meanwhile, Messi’s fans highlight his record-breaking eight Ballon d’Or titles—more than any other player in history—as solid proof of his superiority.
Messi further strengthened his claim to the GOAT title by leading Argentina to a World Cup victory in 2022, securing a prestigious trophy that continues to elude Ronaldo.
