“There isn’t a comparison” - Gary Lineker puts Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi ‘GOAT’ debate to bed with honest verdict
Former England striker Gary Lineker has shared his opinion on the GOAT debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Lineker stated that he admires Ronaldo, but the Portuguese legend is not on the same level as Messi.
The Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo debate is one that will probably continue even after both players have retired from the beautiful game. The two modern-day greats have defined the last decade-and-a-half of top-level football. In the process, fellow players, coaches, and pundits had given their opinion on who they think is better.
Speaking on his The Rest Is Football podcast, Gary Lineker reiterated his stance that Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time. The Englishman had previously stated that the GOAT debate was over after Argentina qualified for the World Cup final in 2022. He said (via Mirror):
"The only debate for me in terms of GOAT status is whether it’s him [Messi] or Diego Maradona. You can only really judge players you saw enough of in your lifetime. I didn’t really see enough of Pele, but he would probably be the other."
“If you’re talking about a debate between Messi and Cristiano, well, I’m sorry. As much as I admire Cristiano – he's a wonderful, wonderful footballer and a truly brilliant goalscorer – when it comes to actually comparing them as footballers, there isn’t a comparison.”
He added:
“Well, it’s true. Messi is probably the best dribbler we’ve ever seen, possibly along with Diego. He's also probably the best passer we've ever seen, he sees things that no one else has ever seen, and his goalscoring numbers are up there with Cristiano’s – you could say the greatest goalscorer we’ve ever seen – but Messi’s numbers are very similar, so. As much as I admire Cristiano Ronaldo – he's an absolutely fantastic player – who would you rather watch? They are different players, but if you’re talking about the best footballer, it's all-encompassing."
The former Tottenham Hotspur forward also believes that Kylian Mbappe will never get to the level of Lionel Messi. He said:
"He’s still the player I’d want to watch in world football at the moment. I don’t think there’s anyone out there who has taken up the mantle, so to speak, in terms of his all-around ability at present. Whether that happens with someone like Kylian Mbappe over time – I'm not sure he’ll ever be on the level of Messi, but I don’t think anyone will."
Prior to this, Gary Lineker had stated that Messi and Diego Maradona are the greatest players of his lifetime. He said the two Argentine legends share plenty of similarities.
When Cristiano Ronaldo made his feelings clear about Lionel Messi
In 2023, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had both left Europe for Saudi Arabia and America, respectively, the Portuguese forward spoke about his Argentine rival and their relationship. Ronaldo stated that he and Messi are more of professional colleagues than friends.
While on international duty, the Portuguese captain said (via Marca):
"He is making his way, as I am making mine. Regardless if we play outside Europe, he is doing things right, from what I have seen, and I am also doing things right. And the legacy continues. We shared the stage for 15 years. I'm not saying we are friends, but we are colleagues in the profession and we respect each other."
Cristiano Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, while Messi plies his trade with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Both players have been successful in their respective leagues and have continued their goal-scoring exploits.