It’s a question that’s been asked for more than a decade without a definitive answer.
Messi leads the Ballon d’Or race 6-5 and if the Argentine gets his hands on the award for a seventh time next month, it may just settle the argument.
Whatever the answer, though, it’s fair to say the vast majority of football fans will consider them the two greatest players to have ever played the game.
We say ‘vast majority’ because not everyone is of that opinion.
Former Italy striker, Antonio Cassano, is certainly one of them.
While he’ll happily admit Messi is one the greatest, he doesn’t quite think the same way about Ronaldo.
In fact, Cassano doesn’t actually think Ronaldo is in the top five greatest players of all time.
Ronaldo’s superagent, Jorge Mendes, has regularly suggested his client is the best there ever is stating: “The numbers do not lie and they illuminate the overwhelming way in which Cristiano Ronaldo shatters the records, which elevates him to the category of the best player in the history of football and with a big difference compared to the second [best].”
Quiz: Can you name the footballer based on their Wikipedia page?
However, while appearing on Christian Vieri’s BoboTV Twitch channel, Cassano hit back at Mendes.
“Enough of Jorge Mendes,” Cassano began, per Marca.
“He is not even among the top five: Messi, Pelé, Maradona, Cruyff and Ronaldo ‘O Fenómeno are on another level,” Cassano added.
So Cassano doesn’t think Ronaldo is anywhere near the GOAT debate
While Messi, Pele, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff and Ronaldo are some of the greatest players to have ever played the game, can they really be ranked above Cristiano?
Above a player who has scored more official goals than any other player to have played the game? A player who has won five Ballons d’Or? Above a player who has won everything there is to win in England, Spain and Italy? A player with five Champions Leagues to his name and still playing at the very highest level at the age of 36?
We’re sorry, Cassano, but Ronaldo is DEFINITELY in the top five players of all time whether you like it or not.
