Not Ronaldo, Messi points directly to the best player in the world

09/11/2025 06:10:00 esportapi

It’s not Cristiano Ronaldo; Lionel Messi responded when asked who the best player in the world is after him.

Lionel Messi will be remembered as one of the greatest footballers ever produced by the world of football, as he officially retires and closes his glorious career.

The Argentine forward can still participate in the journey to defend the World Cup with the Tango team next summer, when the tournament is held in Mexico, Canada, and the USA.

Không phải Ronaldo, Messi chỉ thẳng cầu thủ xuất sắc nhất thế giới 737724 — The debate over greatness between Ronaldo and Messi seems to have no end (Photo: GOAL).

However, at 38 years old, this legend has entered the twilight of his career. Still, a new generation of stars is ready to rise, following Messi to compete for the title of the world’s best player, and Messi has shared his opinion on the most deserving name.

An interviewer from NBC News asked in 2019: “So who is the best player in the world besides Messi? You can’t choose yourself. Who is the best?”

At that time, Messi named a series of top stars he had faced during his peak years in Europe. The list included Kylian Mbappé, Eden Hazard, and Luis Suárez.

The Argentine legend replied: “It’s hard to choose because there are so many great names. In my opinion, it’s Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Eden Hazard, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Agüero. I might have forgotten some, but I’m sure any of them deserves to be called the best.”

Không phải Ronaldo, Messi chỉ thẳng cầu thủ xuất sắc nhất thế giới 737725

However, sharp viewers quickly noticed that Cristiano Ronaldo (Messi’s biggest rival for many years) was absent from this list.

The interviewer appeared puzzled and hinted: “You just mentioned many good players, but it seems you forgot one. He wears number 7… can you think of who it is?”

Messi smiled and answered tactfully: “Cristiano Ronaldo? I excluded him from the list, to stand alongside me.”

Không phải Ronaldo, Messi chỉ thẳng cầu thủ xuất sắc nhất thế giới 737726

Fans almost unanimously agree that Messi and Ronaldo are the two greatest superstars of all time, as both hold a total of 13 Ballon d’Or awards, an incredible record in the history of the king of sports.

The endless debate about the “GOAT” (greatest of all time) title seems to have no definite answer. Real Madrid and Portugal fans will assert Ronaldo is number one, while Barcelona supporters and Argentinians believe Messi is the “saint” of football.

Ronaldo himself stated in an interview with El Chiringuito TV early in 2025 that he is “the most complete player to ever exist.” The Portuguese superstar said: “I do everything well in football: heading, free kicks, left foot, speed, strength, everything.”

However, the Al Nassr striker also admitted he “understands” why many admire legends like Messi, Pele, and Diego Maradona.

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