Who should be regarded as the greatest football players of all time is a debate that will continue to divide fans, sport lovers and football players.
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho has now shared his take on the discussion. In the last two decades, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been topping the chart, with the pair sharing the Ballon d’Or award almost exclusively since 2008 — Luka Modric and Karim Benzema are the only two players to break that trend.
Fans would have predicted Ronaldinho will choose Messi due to their playing time at Barcelona. However, despite Messi’s eight Ballon d’Or wins, four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga champion medals, and other honors, Ronaldinho has ignored the Argentine in his GOAT discussion.
Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi celebrates (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
Ronaldinho told Marca: “I’m glad Messi won the Ballon d’Or. We were also friends during our time at Barcelona. But I don’t like to compare, and I find it difficult to say he is the best of all time.”
However, Ronaldinho could not neglect some of the most impressive players of bygone eras.
He added: “There was Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo [Nazario]… it’s hard to say that Messi is the best throughout the history of football. I can only say he is the best of his era.”
Diego Maradona and Pele are two of the most successful players and most talented individuals of the 20th Century.
Meanwhile, Brazil striker Ronaldo emerged as one of the most prolific and naturally gifted forwards of the 1990s and early 2000s.
