Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Manchester City star Jack Grealish picks favorite between 2 superstars

Jack Grealish made his choice known in the GOAT debate (Images via Getty)

Manchester City forward Jack Grealish has given his take on the long-standing debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The Englishman chose the Argentine legend over his Portuguese counterpart.

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi and five-time winner Ronaldo are two of the greatest players to have played the beautiful game. With nearly 2,000 goals and a truck-load of trophies between them, they have conquered every peak imaginable in football.

In an interview with the Manchester City media team, Jack Grealish was asked to name the best player he has ever faced. The 29-year-old named Messi instantly, pointing out the time he faced the Argentine legend in the 2021-22 Champions League. He then chose the Inter Miami man over Al-Nassr skipper Ronaldo.

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"The best player I've ever played against! Lionel Messi. For obvious reasons you know I played against him when he was at PSG and I was at Manchester City in my first season, so it was a privilege just to be on the same pitch as him. Messi or Ronaldo? Messi," Grealish said (via AlbicelesteTalk on X)

Grealish has played against both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but did not share a pitch with the Portuguese great in their meetings. The pair met twice when Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2021. Grealish was an unused sub in their first meeting in November 2021, while Ronaldo was an unused sub in their meeting in 2022.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo nominated alongside Manchester City, Real Madrid stars for World XI

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi and Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo are the only players from outside Europe to receive nominations for the FIFPRO World Team of the Year. The 26-man shortlist included 24 players from Europe.

The list includes players from Europe's best sides, including eight from Real Madrid and seven from Manchester City, as well as three from Bayern Munich. 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is on the shortlist alongside fellow Manchester City stars Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, and Ederson.

Real Madrid are represented by Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric, and Federico Valverde. Bayern Munich have Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala, and Harry Kane among the nominees, with Emiliano Martinez, Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, and William Saliba also included. Cole Palmer and Lamine Yamal complete the 26-man list from which the world XI will be selected.

About the author

Sulayman is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. He has an overall experience of 4 years, having previously worked at the likes of SportsRation and ExtraTimeTalk. His tryst with the sport happened at a young age, playing it at home and watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Sulayman has a good feel for the game, which is reflected in his descriptive articles. He double checks information via multiple sources for accuracy, and only uses top-tier platforms like Transfermarkt and Opta for statistical information. His experience and exploits in the industry have led Sulayman to cover the Nigerian Professional League for three years along with games involving the Nigerian national team. He has also worked in F1, joining hands with industry veterans to provide a smooth viewing experience in Nigeria.

Sulayman hails Lionel Messi as the one true GOAT, and his brace in Argentina’s 2005 U20 FIFA World Cup final win over Nigeria left a lasting impact on him. He also supports Chelsea at club level, having followed their dominance under Jose Mourinho. Sulayman also follows other leagues with Nigerian players like Eredivisie, Saudi Pro League, Turkish Super Lig, and more. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and eating.

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Edited by Arshit Garg