Is the GOAT Debate Finally Settled? A Man Utd Icon's Analogy Emerges on Ronaldo vs Messi

Unquestionably the best football players of all time are Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi; their unique qualities define them. Decades of argument over who is superior have taken over us. While many claim Ronaldo's brilliance because of his worldwide success and record-breaking goal-scoring ability in several major leagues globally, therefore confirming his reputation as an all-around football superstar, some contend Messi is the GOAT after his World Cup triumph back in 2022.

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Gary Neville ends the ‘GOAT’ debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi 

Manchester United veteran Gary Neville chimed in on the long-running argument between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in September 2021 on a Sky Sports Football podcast including Jamie Carragher Neville said Cristiano Ronaldo was the best footballer of all time.

Neville boldly picked Ronaldo, praising his capacity to perform under pressure, when asked who he would call upon as a manager if his side required a match-winner in the last ten minutes. According to Sportskeeda, Gary Neville said: 

"It would be Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be absolutely Cristiano Ronaldo. And I have looked at his goal breakdown and thought of...he can score with his left foot, he can score with his right foot, he can score from distance.

"He is probably the best poacher now in world football. He can score with penalties, and if you stick it in the box and hang it up there, he will go and score with a header. And he might even score with a freekick."

“I have never really answered this question...I do think that he would be the player in the history of football I've watched that I'd bring off the bench if I thought I had to have someone win a football match for me.”

There is no doubt that Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the finest players in the history of Manchester United. Throughout two periods of time with the club, he amassed a remarkable total of 145 goals and 64 assists in 346 games. Ronaldo's association with Manchester United started in 2003 when he was recruited by Sir Alex Ferguson from Sporting CP. Throughout his tenure at Old Trafford, he swiftly established himself as one of the most formidable offensive players in the Premier League and earned his inaugural Ballon d'Or award in 2008.

In 2009, Ronaldo made a prominent transfer to Real Madrid, where he established an iconic rivalry with Lionel Messi of Barcelona. Ronaldo's goal-scoring ability reached unprecedented levels at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he scored 450 goals and made 131 assists in 438 appearances. This amazing achievement resulted in an average of more than one goal per match.