Messi or Ronaldo?:Who holds the title of the world's top player

Lineker declares, “No one can rival Messi in the way they captivate us with their performances.”

Gary Lineker, the renowned former English footballer, hailed Lionel Messi’s exceptional performance, labeling the Inter Miami forward as the “greatest player of all time.” Lineker expressed his preference for Messi when asked to compare him with Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nasr in recent years, as reported by BBC.

In an interview, Lineker stated, “Messi is undoubtedly considered the greatest player of all time. While some draw comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of performance, in my opinion, no one can match Messi in the way he captivates us with his performances.”

It’s worth noting that Messi joined the American club in the summer of 2023 as a free agent, signing a contract until 2025. During the last season, the Argentine national team captain played 14 matches for Inter Miami, scoring 11 goals and providing 5 assists.

The football legends, Ronaldo and Messi, are scheduled to face each other once again in Saudi Arabia in February next year. They previously clashed on the football pitch in January, with Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain securing a 5-4 victory against Riyadh All-Stars XI.

As both players approach the latter stages of their careers on different continents, many believe that the upcoming friendly in February might mark the final time Messi and Ronaldo share a pitch. The two strikers have dominated international football for over a decade, with Ronaldo winning his first of five Ballon d’Or awards in 2008. Over the next 14 years, they shared the prestigious trophy 12 times. Messi’s record eight Ballon d’Ors and Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory have likely settled the endless debate among fans about who is superior. The upcoming friendly in February is expected to reignite discussions comparing Messi and Ronaldo’s legacies.