GATTI: CR7 BEATS MESSI

Legendary Argentine goalkeeper Hugo Gatti has weighed in on the ongoing debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, suggesting that while Ronaldo may have had a more complete career, he will never be considered the greatest of all time (GOAT).

Ronaldo recently asserted in an interview with La Sexta that he is the "most complete" player in history, stating, “I don’t see anyone better than me and I tell you that with all my heart.” The Portuguese icon expressed his self-belief and confidence in his achievements, dismissing comparisons to other football legends such as Messi, Pele, and Diego Maradona.

However, Gatti, while acknowledging Ronaldo's impressive career, disagrees with Ronaldo’s claim to be the best in history. “It is public knowledge that, for me, there is not, nor was there, nor will there be anyone like Pele. Pele is unrivalled, he was something else,” Gatti told Bolavip. He explained that while Ronaldo has been a fantastic player, winning numerous trophies and becoming a top scorer at elite clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, he is not in the same league as Pele, nor does he consider Messi or Maradona to be in that category either.

Gatti added, “Cristiano was very good in recent times, but he is not close to Pele, nor are Maradona and Messi close to Pele. But what he says holds weight because he has been a champion of everything, a goalscorer, and has played in the most important clubs in the world."

The 40-year-old Ronaldo has amassed five Ballon d’Or titles, compared to Messi’s eight, and remains a dominant force in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr. Messi, on the other hand, is now playing for Inter Miami after an illustrious career at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Despite their individual successes, Gatti remains firm in his belief that Pele remains the GOAT, followed by other legends like Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho, and Alfredo Di Stefano.

Ultimately, Gatti’s comments reflect the ongoing debate in football about what makes a player the "greatest of all time." While Ronaldo's accomplishments cannot be denied, the comparison to Pele and other football icons remains subjective, with no definitive answer.