Former Manchester United and Barcelona star Gerard Pique has given his verdict on the GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The centre-half is one of the few players to share a pitch as teammates with Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the two greatest players of the modern age.
The Spaniard was briefly teammates with the Portugal international at Man United and enjoyed a prolific spell with the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner at Barcelona.
Asked if the GOAT debate is over now after Messi outshone Cristiano Ronaldo by lifting the World Cup in Qatar, Pique told the John Nellis' YouTube channel: 'Well, it's true that the fight between them two in the last decade was quite impressive because both of them did incredibly well.
'I think that in terms of talent, Messi is number one, for sure. It's true that Cristiano has worked very hard to try and compete and fight for that first spot but if you see the careers of both… I would choose Messi, for sure.
'He showed that even though he's 35 he can compete as the best player in the world. He showed it in the World Cup.'
Claims of a rift between Messi and Pique over the Argentine's PSG move were another chapter of an ugly end to his love story with Barcelona
Influential journalists, including the editor of leading Barcelona football paper Sport, suggested that while Messi had left some friends at the club, other relationships were broken.
Lluis Mascaro, said that Messi felt let down by Pique and believed that Pique had betrayed him by saying to Barcelona president Joan Laporta that it would be 'okay if Messi left'.
Asked if he messaged Messi to congratulate his former team-mate, Pique said: 'Erm… not really. This is crazy but it's true, I was disconnected from the World Cup. Since my retirement I needed to disconnect from sport, so I didn't watch any games apart from the final - and not the whole game.
'I tried to disconnect, I went on holiday for a few days. My last few months were tough as a pro and I really needed to disconnect from football.'
Jummer
441
If world cup is the matter then Pele's the best of all.
Jesus-is-Lord
290
Only some brainless fans will still argue
Correctguy
235
imagine Ronaldo in Lig 1 playing for PSG with all that quality, it would be the fastest100 goals ever seen in history. That other guy only plays well when the competition is rigged. Dude has not even scored a hatrick since leaving Barcelona
PTLEY7
196
There wasn’t a debate in the beginning it self! Ronaldo has played and proved in every league! The other one played in one league and failed In another league!
LM10FOOTBALL
16
imagine Ronaldo in Lig 1 playing for PSG with all that quality, it would be the fastest100 goals ever seen in history. That other guy only plays well when the competition is rigged. Dude has not even scored a hatrick since leaving Barcelona
what colour is your " G O A T S " world cup ??
Caleb-Haokip
12
imagine Ronaldo in Lig 1 playing for PSG with all that quality, it would be the fastest100 goals ever seen in history. That other guy only plays well when the competition is rigged. Dude has not even scored a hatrick since leaving Barcelona
that's because Messi is not a player always waiting in the box to score tap in🤣 Messi scores, dribbles, assist, play maker etc...
Truthishere
10
If world cup is the matter then Pele's the best of all.
People are being delusioned by Pele having 3 world cups. If Pele was that great in world cup history, how come in 4 different world cup tournaments he has only 12 goals, no top scorer award(golden boot) and 1 best player award(golden ball). Pele in his first world cup tournament made his first appearance from the Quarter finals of the tournament which he did great for himself scoring two goals in the finals and won. In his second world cup appearance, he got injured in the 2nd game of the group stage which ruled him out of the rest of the tournament and Brazil went on to win without him. He wasn't given a medal for the win until the rules changed in 2007 to award medals to all players who were called up for the tournament regardless of whether they played a single minute or not. Kaka in 2002 world cup didn't play a single minute but was given a medal bcos he was part of the squad likewise Ronaldo in 1994. Pele had a great tournament only in 1970, his last world cup appearance where he was awarded the best player of the tournament and missed out on the top scorer award once again! This no one will tell you and that's why till now some believe Maradona is even better than Pele even tho I disagree but it is what it is!
Vuzaclmopu
10
If world cup is the matter then Pele's the best of all.
8 balloon d'or 6 golden shoe
Suhcdkmrt
8
what colour is your " G O A T S " world cup ??
this reply is Savage