Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? When Real Madrid legend Figo gave surprise answer to GOAT debate
Real Madrid legend Luis Figo refused to make any choices in the eternal GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese legend put both the players on the same pedestal, claiming that he would 'never choose between them'.
Figo is a member of the select group of players to have played for both sides of the heated El Clasico rivalry - Barcelona and Real Madrid. He won the Ballon d'Or title in 2000, and is widely considered one of the best players of his generation.
The 52-year-old made 23 appearances for the Portuguese national team alongside Ronaldo, assisting him on four occasions. He never played alongside Messi, with the Argentine maestro making his senior debut for Barca five years after Figo's controversial move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Despite having the national connection with the current Al-Nassr frontman, Figo refused to pick between him and his long-time arch-rival. In an interview in 2017, the Portuguese legend said (via GOAL):
"They are both the best in the world. It is always difficult to choose one of them and say he is the best. In the end Ronaldo and Messi are the ones who have been winning all the individual awards in the world of football and that says it all about their tremendous individual talent as footballers. I would never choose between them."
Messi and Ronaldo dominated the world of football for the better part of a decade and a half, winning a total of 13 Ballon d'Ors between them (eight for the former, five for the latter).
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi still going strong after leaving Europe
Despite being 39 and 37 years of age respectively, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are still delivering stellar performances on a regular basis.
The Portuguese talisman plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, and has continued his prolific form in front of goal. In 81 appearances for the Knights of Najd since his arrival in January 2023, he has racked up 71 goals and 18 assists (13 goals and three assists in 17 games this season).
On the other hand, the Argentine talisman plies his trade for Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami. He has bagged 34 goals and 18 assists in 39 games across all competitions for the Herons and also the first player playing outside Europe to win the Ballon d'Or (2023).
Despite their impressive individual performances, the pair have found limited success on the team level. While Messi helped his side win the 2023 Leagues Cup and break the MLS points record in 2024 (74 points in 34 games), he couldn't prevent them from getting knocked out in Round 1 of the 2024 playoffs.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo is yet to win a title with Al-Nassr. The closest his side got to a trophy is a loss on penalties in the final of the 2023-24 King's Cup against Al-Hilal.