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Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? Jamie Carragher makes greatest of all time revelation
CRISTIANO RONALDO is NOT the greatest player of all time but does outdo his main competitor Lionel Messi in one department, according to Jamie Carragher.
Ronaldo scored his eighth Champions League hat-trick in midweek against Atletico Madrid, inspiring Juventus to overturn a 2-0 first-leg away loss.
It has kept alive the Portuguese’s aspirations to win four consecutive Champions League trophies - an unprecedented record in the competition’s modern era.
Ronaldo’s excellence was then matched by the footballer to which he is always compared - Messi.
The Argentine forward scored twice and assisted once as Barcelona thumped Lyon 5-1 at the Nou Camp on Wednesday, putting in a similarly virtuosic display.
Ronaldo and Messi – the greatest goalscorer of all time and the greater player of all time – show no sign of giving up their dominance
Debate naturally ignited on social media as to which player is better and, therefore, the greatest of all time.
Liverpool legend Carragher, who played against both men, nonchalantly shared his thoughts on the argument in his recent Telegraph column.
“The outcome of the last-16 ties have triggered a conversation about the shifting power in Europe, especially with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich outplayed by Ajax and Liverpool,” he began.
“In reality, the competition is heading towards a showdown between emerging forces and familiar faces.
“Ronaldo and Messi – the greatest goalscorer of all time and the greater player of all time – show no sign of giving up their dominance of European competition, their individual displays in midweek further demonstrating their exceptional skill and motivation levels.”
Messi and Ronaldo have won five Ballon d’Ors apiece, and the former slightly edges it on major club honours at 25 to 22.
Ronaldo has scored 682 career goals to Messi’s 680, further outlining the fine margins between the pair.
“They bring belief to their clubs and fear to opposition,” Carragher added, before alluding to the test facing Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham if they come up against either player’s side in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“The fact remains unless the English clubs can find a way to stop Ronaldo and Messi, this year’s final will be Juventus versus Barcelona.
“I believe the English can and will overcome Ronaldo and Messi this season.
“I believe two English clubs will make it to Madrid and the Premier League will continue to have at least two participants in the semi-finals for the next five years.”