"The difference is huge" - When Mikel Arteta picked between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked in 2024 to name his favorite footballer, and he chose Lionel Messi over the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele and Diego Maradona. Messi and Ronaldo dominated the game for nearly two decades and have divided opinion over who was better.

However, Arteta seemed confident as he backed Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Spanish midfielder also revealed that his three children were fans of the Argentine superstar.

The Arsenal boss told Sky Sports (via SPORTbible):

"It's always been Messi, I can't deny. For me, my three sons it's exactly the same. It's something that we have been really lucky to have the opportunity for many years to experience, in my opinion, the best player of all time."

He further added:

"For me, it has to be because, in comparison to how much I was Messi and the others (Cristiano Ronaldo and Pele), the difference is huge."

Mikel Arteta never faced Messi in his professional career but he played against Ronaldo during his time at Everton. The Arsenal boss played for the Toffees between 2005 and 2011, and Ronaldo was a part of Manchester United from 2003 to 2009 during his first spell at Old Trafford. Ronaldo won six of the eight games played against Arteta, drawing and losing the remaining two.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah once shared his opinion in the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate

Brentford FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League - Source: Getty

Egyptian attacker Mohamed Salah also picked Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo in the football GOAT (Greatest of all time) debate. According to Barca Worldwide on X, the Liverpool superstar was asked to choose between Messi and Ronaldo in March last year.

Responding to the question, Mohamed Salah said:

"Messi, it's not a debate anymore."

Mohamed Salah has been in stellar form this season. He has scored 21 goals and provided 17 assists in 30 matches across competitions for Liverpool. He's also the top scorer in the Premier League with 18 goals, ahead of Manchester City's Erling Haaland, who has bagged 16.

Salah has squared off against Ronaldo six times for club and country, winning just once and losing five times. The solitary victory was a 0-5 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford where the Egyptian had scored a first-half hat-trick. The Liverpool star has faced Messi twice in his career, drawing and losing once.