'I've watched Ronaldo and Messi's careers – there's no debate who the GOAT is'

Still strutting their worldly successful comparative leagues, albeit arsenic their careers upwind down, the statement betwixt who is the greater footballer – Lionel Messi oregon Cristiano Ronaldo – continues to rage on

Gary Lineker has enactment the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi greatness statement to furniture by claiming “there isn’t a comparison”.

The 1 substance of sentiment that still divides shot fans is whether the quick-footed, stylish Argentinian oregon goal-obsessed enigmatic Portuguese is the top subordinate to ever instrumentality the field.

Former England striker Lineker has been beating the Messi drum for the bulk of his punditry career and revealed successful 2022 that the opposing party, Al-Nassr guardant Ronaldo, has since refused to talk to him because of his sentiment and is truthful far from his biggest fan.

Now, the Match of the Day big has doubled down successful ruthless fashion, reiterating that Messi is his prime for GOAT and that determination simply is nary longer a statement to beryllium had regarding the pair.

“The lone statement for maine successful presumption of GOAT presumption is whether it’s him [Messi] oregon Diego Maradona,” Lineker revealed connected his The Rest Is Football podcast to peers Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

“You tin lone truly justice players you saw capable of successful your lifetime. I didn’t truly spot capable of Pele, but helium would astir apt beryllium the other.

“If you’re talking astir a statement betwixt Messi and Cristiano, well, I’m sorry. As overmuch arsenic I respect Cristiano – he's a wonderful, fantastic footballer and a genuinely superb goalscorer – erstwhile it comes to really comparing them arsenic footballers, determination isn’t a comparison.”

The somewhat taken-a-back chuckles from his chap pundits forced Lineker to elaborate. “Well, it’s true,” helium exclaimed. “Messi is astir apt the champion dribbler we’ve ever seen, perchance on with Diego.

“He's besides astir apt the champion passer we've ever seen, helium sees things that nary 1 other has ever seen, and his goalscoring numbers are up determination with Cristiano’s – you could accidental the top goalscorer we’ve ever seen – but Messi’s numbers are precise similar, so.

“As overmuch arsenic I respect Cristiano Ronaldo – he's an perfectly fantastic subordinate – who would you alternatively watch? They are antithetic players, but if you’re talking astir the champion footballer, it's all-encompassing.“

Lineker continued successful his admiration by further expressing the content that Messi, present 37 and plying his commercialized successful the MLS, is inactive the champion subordinate connected the planet.

The Argentinian scored 2 hat-tricks wrong a week for nine and state earlier this period – the treble for his nine broadside Inter Miami coming successful nether fractional an hour, arsenic Messi lone entered the tract of play successful the 61st minute.

“He’s inactive the subordinate I’d privation to ticker successful world shot astatine the moment. I don’t deliberation there’s anyone retired determination who has taken up the mantle, truthful to speak, successful presumption of his all-around quality astatine present,” Lineker added. “Whether that happens with idiosyncratic similar Kylian Mbappe implicit clip – I'm not definite he’ll ever beryllium connected the level of Messi, but I don’t deliberation anyone will.“

Lineker’s workfellow Shearer couldn’t assistance agreeing with his co-star, arsenic some intelligibly judge that Messi is the subordinate who inactive reigns ultimate and has for immoderate time.

“I can’t reason with immoderate of your points,” Shearer replied. “Cristiano Ronaldo is astonishing and has been for deity knows however long, but, yeah, Messi.“

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