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Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy was unequivocal when making his choice in the GOAT debate dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Englishman threw his support behind the former Barcelona captain.
The GOAT debate dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo isn't ending anytime soon as players and spectators continue to hold split opinions about it.
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Leicester striker Vardy weighed in on the debate in a November 2020 interview as he told Sky Sports:
"I think you automatically put Leo Messi up there. We played against him in a friendly after we won the league and just being on the pitch and seeing what he does is immense," Vardy said, referring to Barcelona's 4-2 win in the 2016 International Champions Cup.
"If he the greatest player of all time? For me, yes. Obviously, there are lots of debate around that so I just leave my answer and let others debate," he concluded.
Following a painful relegation last season, Jamie Vardy is back in the Premier League with Leicester. The Foxes drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur in their opening fixture on Monday (August 19), with the striker finding the back of the net.
Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to action with Al-Nassr after the Euros and has scored twice in as many games. Lionel Messi, meanwhile, remains sidelined due to an ankle injury picked up in the 2024 Copa America final win over Colombia.
Lionel Messi leading Cristiano Ronaldo in GOAT debate
After two incredible decades of intense competition, it appears there's finally some clarity about who has had the greater career, and it's none other than the mercurial Argentine.
The Inter Miami forward took a big step ahead of his rival when he led his country to a FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar in 2022. Lionel Messi also added another Copa America title to his cabinet this summer. He also leads in awards like the Ballon d'Or (8:5) and the European Golden Shoe (6:4) over Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has some catch-up to do. Another World Cup will be coming in two years time, but he will be 41 by then, so it's not certain if he will compete in the tournament should Portugal qualify.
