Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? When tennis legend Rafael Nadal made his GOAT pick
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal once candidly responded when asked to pick between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both superstars are considered the best players to have ever played the game.
The Messi vs. Ronaldo debate has been the focal point of most footballing discourses over the last two decades. The two have scored over 1700 goals (combined) and maintained an uncontested duopoly over the Ballon d'Or - football's most coveted individual award - during their primes. While Messi currently has eight Ballons d'Or, Ronaldo has five.
In 2023, Rafael Nadal provided his take on the eternal GOAT debate while vacationing in Greece. The 38-year-old met young fans and agreed to take photos with them.
During the interaction, he encountered an unexpected question. The Spaniard was asked to choose the better footballer between Messi and Ronaldo. Nadal came up with a candid response, saying (as reported by @AlbicelesteTalk on X):
"Messi or Ronaldo? Messi is better, but I’m a Real Madrid fan."
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have entered the twilight of their careers but are still considered among the best in the world. While Ronaldo plays for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr, Messi is filling stadiums in the United States with MLS outfit Inter Miami.
Serena Williams' ex-coach compares Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, respectively
Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou compared Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with two tennis legends - Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
The 58-year-old likened Messi to Federer, explaining that the Swiss icon's natural talent is reminiscent of the Inter Miami superstar. Djokovic, meanwhile, was compared to Ronaldo because of their penchant for hard work and incomparable work ethic.
Mouratoglou shared his opinion in an Instagram post on October 4, saying:
“I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday, and we were saying that Federer is Messi, and Djokovic is Ronaldo."
“Why? Because Federer is pure crazy talent and he just needs to feel what he’s doing. While Djokovic is the super hard worker that pays attention to every single detail,” added Serena Williams' former coach.
Messi is widely considered one of the most gifted footballers of all time. His unparalleled dribbling ability, ball distribution skills, and overall footballing intelligence have cemented his legacy as one of the game's all-time greats.
Messi's enviable repertoire of personal and collective accolades includes four UEFA Champions League titles (UEFA's official website states three), three UEFA Best Player in Europe awards, six European Golden Boots, three FIFA Club World Cups, ten LaLiga titles, two Copa Americas and one World Cup.
On the other hand, Ronaldo is known for his penchant for hard work. The Portuguese ace has developed into a physical specimen through his relentless pursuit of greatness. He is the all-time leading goalscorer in men's football with 907 senior career goals.
Additionally, he has a whopping five UEFA Champions League titles, three The Best FIFA Men's Player awards, four UEFA Best Player in Europe awards, four European Golden Boots, four FIFA Club World Cups, and one Euro Cup among other honors.