‘I think Messi has more talent than Cristiano…’: F1 champion Max Verstappen weighs in on GOAT debate

Who is the greatest ever footballer?; Messi or Ronaldo?, the debate between Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi continues to linger on. Both football icons had never become World Champions before the recently concluded FIFA World Cup 2022. It was expected that after Messi-led Argentina lifted the coveted trophy by beating France in the final of World Cup 2022, the debate will end in favour of the Argentine star but that is not to be.

Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen had given his opinion on the debate surrounding the two football superstars, before the World Cup final (Sunday, December 18, 2022) and his comments are doing the rounds now. In an interview with ViaPlay, Verstappen had said that he was not able to make a choice as both strikers were very different.

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“They are very different, so I can’t choose. I find it impossible to choose because I think Messi has more talent than Cristiano, but Cristiano has just kept on working and being incredibly fit. I mean, what he does at his age is incredible, but that’s how you can become very, very good as well,” said Verstappen.

However, Messi not only outshined Ronaldo by winning the World Cup but also got the better of him in terms of individual performance in the tournament. In seven matches, the Argentina captain scored seven goals and provided three assists. For his all-round performance Messi was awarded the ‘Golden Ball’ which he won for the second time in his career after 2014 World Cup. On the other hand, Ronaldo struck just one goal in five matches in the tournament.

During his campaign at the World Cup 2022, Messi won the Player of the Match award five times which took his overall tally to 11 such awards in all World Cup tournaments that he took part in. He thus set a World Record and also comprehensively surpassed Ronaldo’s feat of winning six Player of the Match awards in World Cups.