Gareth Bale Snubs Ronaldo, Picks Messi As Best Ever to Win Champions League

• Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo won four Champions League together at Real Madrid
• Both men have won five and have one more than Lionel Messi who four at FC Barcelona
• The retired Welsh star picks Messi ahead of his former teammate as the best ever to win the competition

Lionel Messi cemented his legacy as the greatest-ever footballer when he captained Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in December.

He was named the tournament's best player and narrowly missed out on the golden boot to former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe by one goal.

There has been endless debate on who the greatest of all time is between the former Barcelona captain and Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, however, has one area he stands above Messi, the UEFA Champions League. According to Goal, the Al-Nassr star is referred to as ‘Mr. Champions League’ for his unparalleled achievement and records in the competition.

NBA legend professes love for Messi, asks to meet him

Football

Bale picks Messi over Ronaldo

Compared to Messi's four at Barcelona, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the UCL five times, including four together at Real Madrid.

This does not matter to Bale, who picked the former PSG star as the best ever to win the competition when asked ahead of the 2023 final between Manchester City and Inter Milan in Istanbul via Albiceleste Talk.

As documented by UEFA's official website, The former Manchester United star holds multiple records in the competition, including the top scorer with 140 goals, 11 ahead of his rival, who has 129.

Both men have left Europe, and it is unlikely the records will be tampered with anytime soon or forever by the two. The 38-year-old is with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is set to sign for Inter Miami in the MLS.

O’Neal picks Messi as GOAT

Emi Martinez reveals what influenced Messi's bad boy character during 2022 World Cup

Football

Sports Brief reported that NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal hails Messi as the best. He professed love for the South American superstar and asked to meet him.

Big Shaq made this claim ahead of the Eastern Conference final in Miami, the city Messi will be moving to when his move to the MLS is made official.