Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and more: Monaco star Aleksandr Golovin blind ranks 5 football icons
Monaco midfielder Aleksandr Golovin has made blind picks - including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - among five legends of the game.
Ronaldo and Messi are two of the best players in the game's history, having scored over 800 goals for club and country and winning numerous big titles and individual honours.
Having started out in the early 2000s, both are still going strong despite being on the wrong side of 35. Ronaldo and Messi, though, endured contrasting fortunes at their last international tournaments.
While Messi won the 2024 Copa America with Argentina - his fourth straight title with La Albiceleste - Ronaldo went scoreless in five outings at Euro 2024 as Portugal lost to France in the quarter-final on penalties (5-3 after a goalless 120 minutes).
In a fun interaction tweeted by GOAL, Golovin blind-picked Ronaldo, Messi, Pele, Ronaldo Nazario and Diego Maradona in the following order:
"Cristiano Ronaldo: Second"
"Pele: Third"
"Ronaldo Nazario: Fourth"
"Messi: First"
"Maradona: Fifth"
Ronaldo is set to be involved in Portugal's UEFA Nations League opener at home to Croatia in Lisbon on Thursday. Having not scored in his last five competitive international outings, the 39-year-old will be raring to add to his record tally of 130 goals.
However, Messi won't be in action due to injury as Argentina resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Chile on Thursday. La Albiceleste lead the CONMEBOL standings with 15 points in six games.
How have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fared in club football this season?
Cristiano Ronaldo has made a supetb start to the new season - his second full campaign at Saudi Pro League giants - who he joined as a free agent in December 2022.
Coming off a 44-goal 2023-24 season - including a record 35 strikes in the Saudi Pro League - Ronaldo has scored in all four competitive outings this campaign.
That includes two goals and an assist each in two games in the Saudi Super Cup and the Saudi Pro League respectively. However, his search for competitive silverware with his current side continues following a 4-1 loss to holders Al-Hilal in the Super Cup final.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has had an injury-plagued first full season in American football with Inter Miami, whom he joined last summer on a free transfer. In 15 games across competitions, the 37-year-old has registered 15 goals and 11 assists.