“I’ll always go down that road” - When Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard picked between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in ‘GOAT’ debate
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has insisted that he will always pick Lionel Messi ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. The two superstars of modern football are in the twilight of their career, but continue to divide the world of football.
The Portuguese regularly clashed with the 37-year-old during their time together in Europe. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi took the Real Madrid and Barcelona rivalry to a whole new level during their time with the respective clubs.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner now plies his trade with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. His eternal rival, meanwhile, is with Inter Miami, who he recently helped win the MLS Supporters' Shield in the first time in their history.
Speaking on The Greatest Game with Jamie Carragher podcast in March this year, Gerrard outlined why Cristiano Ronaldo won't get into his five-a-side team.
"There are certain players who are on a different level to anyone else out there, Messi and Ronaldo," said Gerrard.
He added:
“But Ronaldo doesn’t get in my team. I am more about what you are going to do for the team. What are we going to achieve together? Ronaldo will win you things but I am more about a team player than an individual player, so I’ll always go down that road.”
Gerrard also touched on the matter while speaking to Manchester United legend Gary Neville on The Overlap in April this year. The Al-Ettifaq manager reiterated that he is Team Messi but added that the two players' achievements might never be repeated.
“Lionel Messi for me. I'm someone who'd not say a derogatory thing about Ronaldo because he's a phenomenon," said Gerrard.
He continued:
"They're the two in my era that were just...when you're a footballer yourself and you've done it yourself, the numbers are just.. I'm not sure who's going to do that again, I'm not sure that's going to happen again.”
The Portuguese's contract with Al-Nassr expires next summer and he hasn't signed a new deal yet.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi failed to make the 2024 Ballon d'Or shortlist
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both failed to make it to the Ballon d'Or shortlist this year. This was the first time since 2003 that both the former winners are missing from the nominee list.
The Portuguese secured his first nomination for the coveted award in 2004, while the Argentinean entered the scenes in 2006. Since then, Ronaldo has been nominated for the award on 18 occasions, while his archrival was on the shortlist on 16 occasions.
Cristiano Ronaldo was missing from the nominee list last year as well, while Lionel Messi couldn't break into the shortlist in 2022. The 39-year-old has won the Ballon d'Or five times, the second-most behind the Messi, the reigning champion, who has won it a record eight times.