Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville dug into the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi debate on Monday, and unsurprisingly the duo disagreed in a fiery discussion.
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United on Saturday in a blaze of glory, scoring twice in front of a rocking Old Trafford and charging back into the spotlight after failing on his Champions League promise at Juventus.
The Portuguese icon's comeback has poured gasoline all over the blazing bonfire of this eternal debate, with both men making fresh starts this summer after Messi's move to PSG.
Neville, a former team-mate of Ronaldo's, is now convinced the 36-year-old is unrivalled across the game's history.
'I've always ignored the Ronaldo/Messi question, it's a bit of a fantasy and both need to be enjoyed,' the former United right-back said on Monday Night Football.
'I was asked this morning by a gentleman who was driving me in: If you could pick any player in history to come off the bench and win you a game, who would it be?
'It would absolutely be Cristiano Ronaldo. I do think he's the greatest football player that has ever lived. That is not a bias.
'Messi is a ridiculous player who's scored an obscene amount of goals. It's incredibly similar (on the stats) apart from the wrong-footed goals, the headers, and the penalties.
'That takes me to a point whereby he's more complete in terms of the most important part of the game. What tips me is the international record, the most goals of all-time, and the five UCL's with worse teams than Messi's.'
Carragher disagreed: 'Ronaldo is not the greatest player of all time. I'm going to say it's his mate here (Messi).
'It doesn't matter how a ball goes in the net, Messi has more goals than Ronaldo. Messi is also a playmaker, he can run a game, Ronaldo can't do that.
'Talk about who you want coming off the bench, Messi has scored more goals coming off the bench, so that's a ridiculous thing you've said there.
'Ronaldo does things other players can do, Messi does things we've never seen before. In terms of the goalscoring that's not right.
'There's been a lot of fanfare about Ronaldo from ex-players, I just think you've just got carried away.'
zascdintyz
644
The only thing that keeps ronaldo in the GOAT debate is his goals in this too he is not very far despite playing more than 100 ganesis . He is behind on every other aspect of the game. Only and true GOAT is Lionel Messi 🐐 anything else is just a biased opinion.
susbdeikyz
595
very true Messi does things we've never seen before. and I think it very hard to see exact after his retirement.....
Gunnvr
568
That’s the difference between Messi fans and Ronaldo fans Messi fans speak with facts and stats to back their arguments Ronaldo fans just talk trash like left footed goals and champions league with weaker teams than Barca. When did Madrid become a weaker team than Barca ?? That’s absolute stupidity. He didn’t get carried away he is just stupid
Pincnoprt
538
key words by the wise man, Messi is a playmaker he can run a game Ronaldo can't, secondly Ronaldo does things other players can do Messi does things we've never seen before. this is the only reason why i go for Lionel Messi
9jaysuchapter
533
everyone knows the goat king Messi
NischalBhandari
492
believe me or not maradona was twice better than messi
Vooalor
429
no Manchester United supporter or former player will ever say messi is the greatest after what he did to them in 2 champions league finals
Yazaelnpt
412
any body who is comparing dis two guys don't know football believe me Ronaldo is great but Messi is the greatest.
Emmyjrs
378
Read Carefully if you Understand English.. Am a Man utd Fans but Truth be told.. CR7 Does things that Other Footballers can do, But Messi does something Nobody can do.. Messi can Dictate a Game from Midfield but CR7 can't do it, because Ronaldo is all about Goalss for the past 7yrs.. Take goals away from Ronaldo & he become Almost Useless.💯💯
KRISTIANO007
283
To Carragher who says messi has more goals than GOAT Ronaldo
shamoilqureshi
264
There is only one goat 🐐.His name is Lionel Messi.Nothing taking away from Ronaldo he is the best striker who give you goals.But Messi is complete player.The ball attached to him like magnet he give you so many things on football pitch.
Gunnvr
19
And u are nt talking trash. I hope u read the part he said Messi has more goals thank Messi. Go and revise your note before u run your mouth rudely
If he says so he is mathematically right but because u are Ronaldo fan ur brain won’t comprehend. He has more goals because he has played less matches than Ronaldo if you do the math messi has more goals than him. In terms of everything Messi surpasses him mathematically goals assists shot accuracy free kick goals everything. Messi is not any ordinary player who runs around the pitch without being impactful for almost 45 minutes then get a simple tap in and win man of the match. Messi runs the total game that’s why after most matches u see him topping almost all the stats that’s why he wins man of the match without even scoring he is simply the best. Ronaldo has competition with haaland mbappe Ibrahimovic lukaku. He is even lucky to be compared with Messi
vickipounds
10
Read Carefully if you Understand English.. Am a Man utd Fans but Truth be told.. CR7 Does things that Other Footballers can do, But Messi does something Nobody can do.. Messi can Dictate a Game from Midfield but CR7 can't do it, because Ronaldo is all about Goalss for the past 7yrs.. Take goals away from Ronaldo & he become Almost Useless.💯💯
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you deserve an award for this comment I have to give it to you for admitting the truth even when you clearly belong to the cr7 camp and I don't blame most man you fans who support Ronaldo the best people to judge are neutral fans that neither support man u madrid juventus barca and psg and most neutrals prefer messi
TijanMilla
9
the jumps,the powerful headers and shots, using both legs to shoot.... Tell me messi can do those?!?
English is really difficult for some people..he said "take goals from Ronaldo" he didnt talk about how you score them
Bopciortuz
8
believe me or not maradona was twice better than messi
and believe me messi is twice better than ronaldo