Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi GOAT Debate: When Jay Jay Okocha Explained His Pick

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi GOAT Debate: When Jay Jay Okocha Explained His Pick

  • Jay Jay Okocha has waded into the GOAT debate over Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi
  • The former Bolton Wanderers midfielder acknowledged the talents of the pair, saying they bring different qualities to the table
  • Some pundits have suggested that winning the FIFA World Cup would have made that difference, and Messi achieved that in 2022

Nigerian football icon Jay Jay Okocha once weighed in on the eternal greatest of all-time debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Football fans, pundits, commentators, coaches, and even players have mixed opinions about both players who dominated football faces for almost two decades.

Messi and Ronaldo have split a staggering 13 Ballon d'Or awards between themselves, with the Argentine winning eight and the Portuguese five.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow YEN's WhatsApp channel for a daily dose of breaking news on the go! o/

Read also

Ronaldo or Messi: Kevin De Bruyne picks the player he would prefer to play with

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominate the GOAT debate
Jay Jay Okocha believes Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi deserve the goat status. Photo: David Ramos.
Source: Getty Images

Having created several incredible records for club and country, some have said winning the FIFA World Cup could determine the actual GOAT, and Messi won the coveted prize in Qatar 2022.

Okocha, who had an incredible career during his playing days for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, seems to be an admirer of both Ronaldo and Messi, but he suggested the pair have shown different qualities.

Speaking on the GOAT debate, the former midfield maestro admitted that both superstars deserve the status; however, he believes Messi has an edge. Okocha told Capital FM:

“I think both of them rightly deserve to be GOATs, but I prefer Messi. As for me…I mean…Cristiano Ronaldo is typical of what you can achieve with hard work, but for Messi, everything comes naturally…and he works hard as well.”

Read also

Cristiano Ronaldo's honest thoughts on whether Messi settled GOAT debate

Kaka hails Messi

Legit.ng earlier reported that Brazilian football icon Ricardo Kaka recently lavished praise on Lionel Messi, highlighting the Argentine maestro's unwavering mentality.

The admiration follows a viral moment where Messi was seen in tears after being subbed off due to an ankle injury in the Copa America final against Colombia.

Kaka, who played alongside Messi's arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, also acknowledged the fans' unforgettable support, noting that not only Argentines but also Colombians chanted Messi's name when he cried.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Richard Nutakor avatar

Richard Nutakor (Sports Editor) Richard Nutakor is a digital media enthusiast with over 8 years of working experience in media and digital marketing. He's worked with notable media brands in Ghana like Media General, owners of TV3 Ghana, 3FM, Onua FM & Connect FM. He's also worked with Global Media Alliance as a Digital Account Manager. He obtained a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Ghana in 2016 and a Masters in Brands and Communication Management from the University of Professional Studies, Accra. Email: richard.kekeli@sportsbrief.com