Jamie Carragher confidently ended the Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi GOAT debate
On the CBS Sports Golazo set in Miami, Carragher participated in a six-person panel, engaging in discussions and fielding questions from fans. When asked about the enduring debate between Messi and Ronaldo, he unequivocally chose Messi, confidently asserting that there "is no debate."
“There was never a discussion and Ronaldo was not close in any way to Messi. Ronaldo is one of the greatest goalscorers in history, but Messi is the greatest player in history.”
Carragher's stance faced opposition from a panel member, Charlie Davies, who contended that the former Liverpool star harbored a dislike for Ronaldo. This panelist argued in favor of Ronaldo, asserting that there was a time when the debate over who was the better all-around player was close, particularly citing the Portuguese star's tenure at Manchester United.
"He wasn't at his prime at United," argued Carragher. "Of course, he was a great player, but I think he was at his best at Real Madrid." When asked if the Real Madrid of Ronaldo compared to the Argentine, Carragher said: "It's not Messi [level]. I don't think it's [close.]"
The panel swiftly reminded Carragher of past incidents, pointing out that Messi had previously referred to him as a donkey. Additionally, they noted that Ronaldo had seemingly ignored him while acknowledging the rest of the Sky Sports pitchside team during his time at Manchester United.
Carragher shared, "I had a little dig at Ronaldo early in the season. I did not think it was a great signing for United. And I used the example of Messi. I did not think Messi was a great signing for PSG," he continued.
Presenter David Jones interjected, "That was on Monday Night Football, wasn't it?" Carragher confirmed, "Yeah, it was on Monday Night Football, and I got a private message on Instagram." Jones inquired, "From the man himself?" Carragher responded, "From the man himself. I will not be showing private messages, but he basically called me a donkey.