- Legendary Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, once shared his perspective on the never-ending GOAT debate
- Bolt, a GOAT in his own right, raised a few eyebrows when he omitted Lionel Messi from his list because of Cristiano Ronaldo
- While both Messi and Ronaldo each have their ardent supporters, their legacies are forever intertwined, ensuring the debate never ends
The quest to crown the greatest footballer of all time (GOAT) has sparked an unending debate, captivating everyone from pundits to casual fans and even athletes from other sports.
This discussion frequently features legends like Argentina's Diego Maradona and Brazil's Pele, both revered for their extraordinary talents.
In recent years, however, the conversation has centred around two dominant figures: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Their careers have been marked by remarkable achievements, with both players setting unprecedented standards in goals, trophies, and individual accolades.
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Messi and Ronaldo's rivalry has defined a generation, with each pushing the other to greater heights.
Despite Messi leading Argentina to a long-awaited World Cup victory and becoming the most decorated footballer in history, a significant number of fans still argue that Ronaldo deserves the GOAT title.
Usain Bolt settles GOAT debate, omits Messi from list
One notable supporter of Ronaldo is Usain Bolt, the legendary sprinter and an eight-time Olympic gold medalist.
Widely regarded as the greatest sprinter ever, Bolt was once asked to name his top three GOATs in football.
With little hesitation, he listed Pele and Maradona before concluding with Ronaldo, as noted by Essentially Sports.
When questioned about Messi's omission, Bolt simply responded, "It's Cristiano Ronaldo."
Is Usain Bolt retired? What has he been up to?
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After retiring from athletics, Bolt explored a career in football, playing for Central Coast Mariners and participating in the charity event Soccer Aid.
In June 2018, he made an appearance for Norwegian side Strømsgodset, although his team lost to the national Under-19s side, marking the end of his football ambitions.
Since then, Bolt has diversified his pursuits, launching a clothing brand and a scooter business and even dabbling in music and DJing, according to Spanish publication AS.
He has also embraced fatherhood, continuing to inspire both on and off the track.
Messi picks 2024 Ballon d'Or contenders
In an another publication, Legit.ng reported that Messi has named Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe among the frontrunners for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award but has excluded Jude Bellingham from the race.
The England midfielder, who had a stellar debut season with Real Madrid, is expected to provide stiff competition to whoever is in the running for the prize.
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The Ballon d’Or, which both Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi have largely dominated over the last decade, saw the Argentina captain add another to his record-extending accolade following his triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Source: YEN.com.gh
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