Lionel Messi Snubbed by Former Argentina Teammate in Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT Debate

• The Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi GOAT debate continues to divide opinions among football fans
• Some fans have marvelled at the machine-like athletic relentlessness of Ronaldo’s goal-scoring ability
• Others are enticed by Messi’s wizardry with the ball but Gabriel Heinze has now made a bold claim

Former Argentina and Manchester United defender, Gabriel Heinze has weighed in on the never-ending discussion on who is better between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Heinze had the rare honour of playing alongside the aforementioned GOAT duo, with Ronaldo during his three-year stint at Man United and with Messi at the national team level.

The 42-year-old, who has transitioned into coaching after hanging up his boots, revealed his stance on the GOAT debate with a bold claim for one of the pair.

"If I had to pay for one player, I would choose [Ronaldo]. I don’t think Cristiano will get any better as a footballer. He is already next to God in his ability,” he said as quoted by Sportskeeda.

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Despite Heinze's verdict, the question of who is better between the pair will dominate the minds of football fans into the future.

Ronaldo, Messi free kick comparison

Ronaldo prefers to score from a distance rather than close to the goal. Although his ability to score from the edge of the box has appeared to decline recently, the 38-year-old still poses a threat in dead-ball situations.

The Al-Nassr star primarily employs the 'knuckleball' technique when taking set pieces with very little side spin, allowing the airflow around the ball to direct its trajectory, Sports Brief previously reported.

Meanwhile, Messi's free kicks have a unique 'sprained-ankle' technique that enables him to give the ball enough spin to evade the wall and outmuscle the goalkeeper. He has the record for the most free kick goals in a season.

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Eminem picks Ronaldo over Messi

In a related article, Sports Brief reported on multiple award-winning American rapper, Marshall Bruce Mathers III or Eminem revealing his GOAT pick.

Touted as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he jumped into the never-ending argument of who the greater footballer is between Ronaldo and Messi.

Eminem had an interesting analogy when discussing the GOAT, arguing that Ronaldo's status as the 'best in the sport' had attracted a lot of haters.