When Zinedine Zidane Named Player Better Than Lionel Messi and Himself to ‘Settle’ Goat Debate

When Zinedine Zidane Named Player Better Than Lionel Messi and Himself to ‘Settle’ Goat Debate

  • French football legend, Zinedine Zidane, once made a watershed remark about the never-ending and ever-divisive GOAT debate
  • According to ex-Manchester United star, Patrice Evra, Zizou revealed to him a player better than Lionel Messi and himself
  • Aside from Zidane, numerous top-tier stars and influential figures have regularly expressed their views on the argument

Who is the greatest of all time (GOAT)? This timeless question has always stirred passionate discussions among football enthusiasts.

The raging topic frequently resurfaces at match viewing centres, on social media, and even among players and pundits.

Zinedine Zidane once tilted towards Cristiano Ronaldo in the never-ending GOAT debate between the Portuguese and Lionel Messi.
Zinedine Zidane once named a better footballer than himself and Lionel Messi in 'settling' the GOAT debate. Photos by Pool and Simon Bruty.
Source: Getty Images

For whatever reason, factors such as club loyalty, personal preferences, and emotional attachments often influence this debate, making it a highly subjective and passionate topic.

Over the years, the conversation has shifted from Pele and Maradona to the modern rivalry of Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo.

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The iconic duo ruled the sport like no other, showcasing their unparalleled talents for nearly two decades.

The empyrean Argentine and Portuguese phenom turned the Ballon d'Or into their personal battleground, monopolizing the prestigious award for years, per Goal.

Despite Messi having more Golden Ball awards and finally clinching the World Cup, some fans still argue that Ronaldo is the superior player.

When Zidane named better footballer than himself and Messi

In an attempt to settle the GOAT debate, a video that once went viral on social media emerged where Patrice Evra shared a revealing conversation he had with the legendary French player Zidane about who the GOAT is.

According to the former Manchester United defender, Zidane candidly expressed that he believed Ronaldo not only surpassed Messi but also outshone Zidane himself.

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Evra recounted, as quoted by CristianoXtra: "When Ronaldo signed for Madrid, I remember Zizou saying Ronaldo is better than Messi, and he is even better than Zidane."

Didier Drogba picks Ronaldo as football GOAT

Relatedly, YEN.com.gh reported that Didier Drogba is among several top-tier footballers who have weighed in on the ongoing Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi debate.

Ivorian legend Drogba chose Ronaldo when asked who he thought was the better player.

The Ivorian and Portuguese stars were direct rivals during Ronaldo's first stint at Manchester United, while Drogba faced Messi numerous times in his career, particularly in the UEFA Champions League.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

Authors:
Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe avatar

Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe (Sports Editor) Godwin Nii Armah Tagoe is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in digital journalism. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Integrated Rural Arts and Industry (2016). Godwin's career includes roles as a Presenter at VNTV, Sports Analyst at Obonu FM, and Football Writer for a myriad of sports websites. He joined Yen.com.gh in 2024 to cover sports. Email: godwin.tagoe@yen.com.gh.