The Messi and Ronaldo debate has been going on for years (Image: Getty)
Arjen Robben has had his say on who is the greatest footballer of all time; Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. The Dutchman shared the pitch with both superstars throughout his illustrious career, which spanned with Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, as well as on the international stage with the Netherlands.
There is no doubt that Messi has left an indelible mark on the world of football since his debut with Barcelona in 2004, winning ten La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and seven Copa Del Rays at the Camp Nou. He also helped PSG win two Ligue 1 titles following his 2021 move, as well as a World Cup with Argentina in 2022.
He also has eight Ballon d'Or titles to his name, six European Golden Boots, eight FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a litany of other accolades. Ronaldo, meanwhile, also has a long list of achievements to his name: three Premier League titles and one Champions League with Manchester United, two La Liga trophies and four Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, and two World Cup medals. Serie A winner with Juventus.
While both men have accomplished so much in the beautiful game throughout their careers, it can be incredibly difficult to choose who is the better player. But Robben weighed in on the debate, saying Messi is ultimately superior.
Speaking about trick players on the TOUZANI YouTube channel, the 40-year-old said: “You mentioned some really big names who are very good at it. When I talk about it with the guys. Best of all time .The best. Really the absolute best ever, I always ask “does he use stuff?”
“And then the answer is no. Of course, Messi has no tricks up his sleeve. He does everything quickly. He has control, speed and agility.”
Arjen Robben showered Messi with praise (Image: Getty)
At the age of 37, Messi is currently enjoying the latter stages of his career with David Beckham's Inter Miami. The pacy striker won the Leagues Cup shortly after arriving in Florida, also adding the Supporters' Shield to his growing list of trophies this year.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, opted for a big-money move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 after having his contract mutually terminated by Manchester United in 2022. The 39-year-old currently plays for Al-Nassr, where he won the Champions Cup Arab clubs. last year.
As both men approach their forties, they show absolutely no signs of slowing down in terms of their respective performances. Ronaldo has scored eight goals in nine appearances for his club in all competitions so far this season, while Messi has scored 19 and set up 12 in 21 matches for Miami during the 2024 MLS campaign.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1959899/ronaldo-messi-goat-arjen-robben