Piers Morgan has listed Cristiano Ronaldo No 1 in the greatest players he has seen during his lifetime, while placing Lionel Messi only third.
The TV personality was full of praise for the Manchester United star and put him first in his personal top 10 following his sensational hat-trick over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
There is often fierce debate between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the top prize following their battle for dominance over the last 15 years, but the current Paris Saint-Germain star can only feature third on the list.
Morgan claimed Messi was only a 'flat-track bully' in his Sun column buy still felt he was worthy of a place in the top three behind his compatriot and the former Argentina forward Diego Maradona who many still regard as the world's greatest ever player.
Speaking in support of naming Ronaldo No 1, the Arsenal fan added in his column: 'For the past few weeks, Ronaldo has been the subject of derisive sneering from people who should know better that he’s washed up, finished, kaput… that the magic’s gone, the wondrous goal machine broken, he’s too old and too slow to be a proper force anymore.'
While Morgan admitted Messi was genuinely world class, he claimed he had been protected throughout his career.
'Messi is a genius, no question, but I’ve long suspected he’s what cricket fans would call a "flat-track bully".
'For the first 17 years of his career, he only ever played for one club, Barcelona, where he was always surrounded by whole teams of world class players. From the moment he left Spain and was taken out of his heavily protected comfort zone, he’s faded faster than my taste buds after I caught Covid.
Morgan's list also sees another Barcelona legend in Ronaldinho who during the mid-2000s was seen as the world's best before the emergence of Messi.
Former Brazil star Ronaldo competes the top five, while another Manchester United favourite in George Best is ranked as sixth best.
Brazil's figurehead for their 1970 World Cup side in Pele, who often ranks alongside the best ever, is only ranked seventh, with Arsenal's greatest goal scorer Thierry Henry just behind in eighth.
Completing the top 10 is current Real Madrid boss and former France star Zinedine Zidane ahead of AC Milan and Italy legend Paolo Maldini who Morgan believes is the greatest defender of all time.
Jamirl
190
That's one thing about being the GOAT 🐐 it's just about the consistency Ronaldo has shown over the number of years he's been playing,something most players find it hard to do...Ronaldo is ageing just like a fine winer,the better the merrier GOAT 🐐