Napoli Superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Chooses between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has opened up on his preference in the never-ending GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
• Kvaratskhelia, who has had an electric start to the ongoing season, reveals he models his game after the Al-Nassr star
• There is an unending debate on who is the greatest of all time between Messi and Ronaldo

Napoli playmaker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has sparked another round of debate among football fans after picking Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi as his idol.

The Georgia international has been a revelation this season, scoring 12 goals while notching 12 assists in 23 appearances across all competitions for the Naples-based club.

The 21-year-old fleet-footed attacker shared his opinion on the never-ending debate of who is the GOAT between Messi and fierce rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo and Messi are rightly viewed as the two greatest players of their generation and regularly competed for major honours for nearly two decades.

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The two superstars have 12 Ballon d'Ors and have won numerous trophies, including multiple UEFA Champions League trophies and league titles in different countries.

While Messi and Ronaldo can both boast many individual laurels, it is perhaps only on the international stage that the Argentine genius holds a superior upper hand.

The 35-year-old PSG star led the South American country to Copa America glory in 2021 before finally winning his first World Cup four months ago in Qatar.

However, the debate is unending and has past and present players wading into it. Napoli rising star Kvaratskhelia is the latest to give his verdict on the topic, as reported by Sportskeeda.

“I like Ronaldo more as he is my idol, but Messi is the top,” the 22-year-old said.

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Lionel Messi vs Ronaldo statue

Meanwhile, Messi was recently honoured with a statue by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), which will be housed at the official museum of South American football, ESPN reported.

The PSG star statue will be put alongside statues of Diego Maradona and Pele. While Messi’s statue is currently making headlines, it’s also reminded many of Ronaldo’s infamous likeness.

The Al-Nassr player was honoured with his own statue in 2017, but fans were not happy with it at all. As noted by Goal, they criticised the statue's creator because it looked nothing like the Portuguese superstar.

Fans are now trolling the former Manchester United star, saying Messi has won 'the battle of the statues'. They also mocked him because the Argentine's statue is holding the World Cup trophy, something the real Ronaldo has not achieved.

Messi honoured with a statue

Messi has been honoured with a statue by CONMEBOL, Sports Brief previously reported.

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The 35-year-old's effigy will be placed next to statues of greats, Diego Maradona and Pele.

Messi was honoured with the statue after leading Argentina to the World Cup last year.