Sir Alex Ferguson has shared his thoughts on the long-standing debate over whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time (GOAT). The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has dominated the football world for nearly 15 years, with both players widely regarded as the best of their era.
Messi, who emerged from Barcelona’s youth academy, has won eight Ballon d’Or awards and scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for the Catalan club. During his time with Barcelona, the Argentine star won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies. In the later stages of his career, Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, and he also led Argentina to two Copa America titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo’s career closely mirrored Messi’s. After moving from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United in 2003, he won three Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy under Sir Alex Ferguson’s guidance. Ronaldo broke the world transfer record in 2009 when he joined Real Madrid for £80 million. He scored 450 goals in 438 games for the Spanish giants, adding four more Champions League titles and two La Liga championships.
Ronaldo and Messi’s Journeys Beyond Europe
Ronaldo transferred to Juventus in 2018 and returned to Manchester United in 2021. However, his second stint at Old Trafford ended in 2022 after his contract was mutually terminated, leading him to join Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Internationally, Ronaldo has enjoyed success with Portugal, winning the European Championship and the UEFA Nations League.
Ronaldo’s first spell at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson is considered one of the most important periods of his career. Ferguson, having managed Ronaldo and watched many of his and Messi’s head-to-head matches, developed an intimate knowledge of both players.
In a 2015 interview with the Manchester Evening News, Ferguson offered his take on the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo. “People often ask, ‘Who’s the best player in the world?’ and many say Messi, which is hard to argue against. But Ronaldo could play for Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers, and still score a hat-trick in any game,” Ferguson said.
He implied that Messi’s success might be tied to playing in a specific system, suggesting he may not achieve the same success outside of Barcelona. Ferguson also highlighted Ronaldo’s versatility, noting his ability to use both feet, his speed, effectiveness in the air, and bravery. While he acknowledged Messi’s bravery as well, Ferguson commented that “Messi is a Barcelona player,” hinting that Messi is more suited to a specific playing style.
