Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have both been involved in a long-running debate about who is the greatest soccer player of all time. Over the years, a host of players and coaches have picked their sides, with a former Arsenal star being the latest to do so.
But what did the ex-Gunners player say about the seemingly never-ending debate?
Nicolas Pépé Has His Say on Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi Rivalry
Villarreal attacker Nicolas Pépé has claimed that Al-Nassr’s Ronaldo is not better than Inter Miami’s Messi, using a Dragon Ball Z analogy. He has suggested the Portuguese has always been frustrated at not being able to catch up with the Argentine.
“Cristiano Ronaldo does a lot of interviews and he talks a lot about Messi, and that’s how you see that he is number two. You know Dragon Ball Z? Vegeta always talked like that (about Goku), and who never talked? Goku. Ronaldo has the same frustration that Messi is always ahead of him,” Pépé said during a chat with YouTuber and streamer ‘JustRiadhTV’ (via GOAL).
The Ivory Coast international, who played for Arsenal between 2019 and 2023, continued, “In the Messi or Ronaldo debate, I say Messi, if you only look at football properly, forget the stats, all that, Messi is insane. There is no human on earth that can look Messi in the eyes. There won’t be another Messi.”
Despite turning 40 earlier in February, Ronaldo is still going strong for both Portugal and Al-Nassr. He is set to appear in his sixth FIFA World Cup next summer and could face Messi in a potential Portugal-Argentina showdown in the quadrennial tournament.
Ex-Real Madrid Star Opens Up on Relationship With Cristiano Ronaldo
Former Wales and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has dismissed claims that he had issues sharing the same locker room as Ronaldo. He confirmed that he always shared an amicable relationship with the Al-Nassr striker.
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“I’m not really in touch with that many (old Real Madrid team-mates), a few of the Wales boys, but I always got on with everybody. I never had any problems with anyone. I never had any big arguments. Sometimes the media might say about me and Ronaldo, we never had an issue, never had an argument, never had a fight, never had anything,” Bale told GQ.
Bale, who retired in January 2023, played alongside the Portuguese forward at Real Madrid between 2013 and 2018. He shared the pitch with the 40-year-old 157 times and recorded 41 joint goal involvements in the process, as per Transfermarkt.
