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Former Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Piqué has reignited the "GOAT" debate surrounding Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, stating that while he views Messi as the greatest of all time, both players stand as the two finest footballers in the sport's history.
Fewer than 30 players can claim to have shared a pitch with both iconic stars, and Piqué is among that exclusive group. The Spaniard had a brief stint alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United early in his career, before heading back to Barcelona, where he spent over a decade playing next to Messi—while Ronaldo became their fiercest rival at Real Madrid.
"I had the chance to play with both, and both are the greatest in the history of football, but I think Messi is just a little bit above Cristiano," Piqué offered his take on The Last Run podcast.
"Both of them helped me win trophies, because obviously the Champions League we [Man Utd] won in Moscow, Cristiano scored a goal and was crucial to that. The same goes for Messi with Barça."
But the four-time Champions League winner didn't stop there, going on to outline what he believes are the fundamental differences between the two legends.
The Two Main Differences Between Ronaldo and Messi According to Piqué
Piqué also acknowledged why the debate continues to be a matter of personal perspective. In his view, it all comes down to what individuals value more between two distinct qualities: innate talent or unwavering work ethic.
"They both play as forwards, as strikers, and obviously score an incredible number of goals—just insane," Piqué said. "But it's true that their styles of play are very different, and it depends on what you value more.
"If you value hard work, sacrifice, the ability to score headers, free-kicks and penalties, then Cristiano is obviously exceptional at all of those. But if you value pure talent—what you can do with a football—then for me it's Messi.
"The level of talent that he [Messi] has, I've never seen in any other player. Cristiano was a machine, working relentlessly in the gym. I think he prepares like no one else in terms of dedication, but the level of talent Messi possesses was simply extraordinary."
Even with both players now past their peak years, the memories of the heights they reached over more than a decade and the rivalry they embodied remain timeless, rightfully cementing their places among the greatest footballers of all time.
It is a rivalry that defined an entire era of the sport, sparking a debate that will endure long after both Messi and Ronaldo eventually hang up their boots.