Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo? When France coach Didier Deschamps made his opinion on the ‘GOAT’ debate

France head coach Didier Deschamps once shared his take on the GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The duo is widely regarded as two of the best players in the game's history.

Messi, 37, seemingly boosted his case by 'completing' football with his 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph with Argentina, something Portugal captain Ronaldo hasn't won.

However, Deschamps - whose defending champions lost to Messi's team on penalties in the aforementioned World Cup final - doesn't reckon Messi is the sole claimant to the GOAT throne. He told ESPN Deportes ahead of the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony in October last year (as per GOAL):

“The Argentinians (say that Messi is the best of all time). He is one of them, but it is difficult to say that Messi is better than Cristiano Ronaldo or Kylian Mbappe, who is younger."

Messi - who plies his club football for Inter Miami - won a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or award last year. However, the Argentine - as well as Al-Nassr striker Ronaldo - are conspicuous by their absence in this year's 30-man shortlist, marking the first such instance in nearly two decades.

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How have Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo fared against France?

Lionel Messi (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (centre)

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of the most prolific scorers in men's international football, with Ronaldo at the top of the pile with 133 strikes and Messi right behind him with 109.

The two legends have had mixed luck against France in the international arena. Messi has squared off with Les Bleus thrice. The first of those meetings happened in a friendly in February 2009, with La Pulga scoring in Argentina's 2-0 win.

Messi's next meeting with France happened at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Round of 16. He delivered two assists but Argentina slumped to a 4-3 defeat to the eventual champions. In the title match of the 2022 edition, though, Messi scored twice and also netted in the shootout as La Albiceleste dethroned the holders to become the world champions for the first time in 36 years.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo hasn't had much luck against France, losing the first three games before beating them 1-0 in extra time in the Euro 2016 final. He went scoreless against Les Bleus in two more games before scoring twice in a 2-2 draw at Euro 2020.

However, in his most recent meeting with Deschamps side, Ronaldo drew a blank as Portugal lost on penalties in the Euro 2024 quarter-final.