Ronaldo or Messi? When Ronaldinho Named Better Players Than Argentina Star
- Brazilian great Ronaldinho Gaucho was once put to task to name the best football players in history
- While admitting Lionel Messi was one of the best, he fell short of naming him as the best-ever in history
- The 2005 Ballon d'Or winner played with Messi at Barcelona for two years before leaving for AC Milan in 2008
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will always be the go-to players for many fans when asked who is the greatest person to ever play football.
The two have transcended the sport for over 15 years, going toe-to-toe for major awards, both individual and collective.
Source: Getty Images
It was, therefore, a surprise when Ronaldinho produced a list when he was asked who his GOAT was.
Ronaldinho names players better than Messi
In a 2019 interview, the Brazilian legend shocked the world by rejecting claims that Messi was the best-ever player. Ronaldinho was an equally good player during his playing days, leading the Barcelona renaissance in the 2000s.
He was the recipient of the 2005 Ballon d'Or award, as reported by Sky Sports. He also won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002.
Gaucho, who had the opportunity to see a young Messi develop at Barcelona, opined that there were better players than him.
"I can't say Messi is the best ever. I don't like comparisons because it's hard to identify who is the best in history; there are Diego Maradona, Pele and Ronaldo," he told Marca.
Ronaldinho settles GOAT debate
The former AC Milan and PSG player, however, admitted that Messi was the best player of his time, thus settling the raging GOAT debate against Ronaldo.
Comparing Messi's and Ronaldo's careers
Beyond celebrity endorsements, Messi's and Ronaldo’s achievements have fuelled decades of debate.
Between them, they dominated world football for more than a decade while starring for Barcelona and Real Madrid.
From 2008 to 2017, one of the pair won every Ballon d’Or, excluding Luka Modrić's win in 2018, according to Goal.
Both veterans have lifted countless club and international trophies and broken records that will stand for years.
Messi’s 2022 World Cup victory is often cited as the defining moment in his favour, while Ronaldo continues to chase personal milestones, including edging close to 1,000 career goals while featuring in the Saudi Pro League.
Source: Getty Images
Despite approaching the twilight of their careers - Messi in his late 30s playing in Major League Soccer and Ronaldo already in his 40s in Saudi Arabia - the debate rages on.
The Argentine, now with Inter Miami, guided the club to a historic MLS Cup triumph in 2025, underscoring his enduring influence.
His perceived Portuguese rival, meanwhile, continues to showcase his goal-scoring prowess and ambition abroad.
Many YouTube videos have also sought to compare the players' respective skill sets to try to determine who deserves the GOAT crown.
Ultimately, their accomplishments make comparisons inevitable, and the debate comes down to debatable margins.
13 Ballon d’Or awards, multiple domestic and continental titles, and individual records have solidified their places among the sport’s all-time greats.
While Messi holds the World Cup and MLS glory, Ronaldo’s chase for historic goal tallies ensures the discussion will continue long after both hang up their boots.
Jay-Jay Okocha on the GOAT debate
YEN.com.gh also reported that Jay-Jay Okocha made his GOAT pick. The former Super Eagles player added his voice to the divisive topic by picking Messi over his arch-rival.
Okocha admitted that both players had specific skill sets that made them worthy of the title but leaned towards the fact that Messi's abilities come naturally.
The two players have won a combined 13 Ballon d'Ors together.
Source: YEN.com.gh
