Cristiano Ronaldo has always asserted that he is the greatest footballer of all time, often with a certain amount of arrogance. In his most recent interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, he reiterated this claim once again.
The debate over who is the greatest footballer in history is nothing new, though it has never truly subsided. Once, Pelé and Diego Maradona were at the heart of this debate, but in modern times, it has predominantly centred around Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. While many consider Messi to be the best following Argentina’s World Cup victory in 2022 under his captaincy, Ronaldo and his supporters are not in agreement.
In his interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo was asked, “People say Messi is better than you. What do you think?” Ronaldo responded, “Messi is better than me? I don’t agree with that. I don’t want to be humble.” He went on to add, “My records, goals, trophies—everything supports my claim. I believe I am the best.”
For nearly a decade, Messi and Ronaldo have been fierce rivals in world football. Together, they have won 13 Ballon d’Or titles (Messi with 8 and Ronaldo with 5) and 9 UEFA Champions League titles (Messi with 4 and Ronaldo with 5). Their intense rivalry, particularly during their time at Barcelona and Real Madrid, has reshaped the footballing landscape.
However, the debate over who is the best between these two legends remains unresolved—and likely always will.
Alongside their numerous club achievements, both have enjoyed remarkable success on the international stage. Messi has won the World Cup with Argentina, along with the Finalissima and two Copa América titles. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has led Portugal to European Championship glory and twice lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy.
These accomplishments have cemented both players as two of the greatest in football history, yet the debate over who is the best continues unabated.