Without hesitation, Cole Palmer pointed out 3 players he considers better than Ronaldo.

Cole Palmer named three players he rates above Cristiano Ronaldo, clearly expressing his opinion on the “GOAT” – the greatest footballer in history.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer was asked to select the top 5 best players in the world on a program by Sports Direct.

However, surprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo, widely regarded by fans and experts as the greatest footballer ever, only ranked fourth on Palmer’s “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) list. Instead, the English midfielder honored Lionel Messi as the true “GOAT,” also mentioning Neymar and Wayne Rooney.

Messi has had a legendary career with Barcelona, winning 10 La Liga titles and 4 Champions League trophies, while Neymar is also highly regarded by Palmer for his skill and influence. As for Rooney, he became a Manchester United legend by scoring 253 goals for the “Red Devils,” holding the club’s all-time scoring record. Previously, Rooney gained attention by scoring a spectacular goal for Everton against Arsenal at just 16 years old.

As for Ronaldo, despite being 40 years old, he maintains impressive form with 5 goals in 6 matches for Al Nassr this season and has no plans to retire anytime soon.

Cole Palmer idolizes Messi and Rooney since childhood.

Palmer wears number 20 at Chelsea after transferring from Manchester City in summer 2023. However, before the 2025/26 season, he decided to switch to number 10, saying he was inspired by Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney – legends who previously wore that number.

When asked about number 10 players he considers role models, Palmer shared: “Messi, definitely, and also Rooney. Number 10 is an iconic number. I’ve worn it throughout my youth and really love it.”

Coming from Manchester City’s academy, Palmer revealed he was a Manchester United fan as a child and always felt excited playing at Old Trafford: “Every time I return to Old Trafford, I feel something special because I used to go there as a kid to watch matches.”

Talking about his idol, he added: “I used to support Man United, and Rooney was the best player on the team back then.”

Related article

Chelsea spends 70 million Euros on a ‘record-breaking striker’ According to two sources from Italy, Chelsea plans to sign young striker Santiago Castro from Bologna in 2026. See more