“It’s a very difficult question" - When Lionel Messi's former teammate picked Cristiano Ronaldo as his GOAT

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Pablo Sarabia once picked Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi in the G.O.A.T (Greatest of all time) debate. The Spain international is one of the lucky players to have shared the same dressing room with both superstars.

Sarabia was a Real Madrid academy graduate and made only one appearance for the senior team. Interestingly, his first-team debut was as a substitute for Ronaldo in the 72nd minute of their 2010-11 Champions League group-stage clash against AJ Auxerre.

In 2019, the midfielder joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Two years later, the French club signed Messi and Sarabia played alongside the Argentine for eight matches before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023.

When asked in 2023 to name the best player he has played with, Sarabia admitted it was a difficult question, but went for Cristiano Ronaldo. He said (via Planet Football):

“It’s a very difficult question. It’s Cristiano because his mindset is totally incredible. It’s very hard.”

Sarabia’s reason for picking Ronaldo was because of his incredible mindset, a statement that the Portuguese icon continues to prove. At 39, Ronaldo is still performing at the top level. Whilst several players would have called it quits at his age, his determination to keep playing is admirable.

Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of football’s most prolific forwards and recently became the first player to score 900 career goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo sets 1000-goals career target

The Portuguese icon recently opened up on his desire to score 1000 goals. The 39-year-old made this goal known during an interview with former teammate Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel UR. Cristiano.

Ronaldo said:

“Soon I will do 900 (goals) and after, I will beat 1000. I want to reach 1000 goals.”

He went on to also reveal he might continue till 41 years of age if he remains injury-free:

“41? We don’t know. If I don’t have injuries, this for me the most important. I want that. For me it’s the best mark that I can have in football is to reach first 900 goals, after my challenge is to reach 1000 goals.”

The Al-Nassr superstar made this comment just before he hit the 900 career goals landmark in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League clash with Croatia on October 5. His current goal tally stands at 907, with 774 for club and 133 for country.