Cristiano Ronaldo is a freak of nature – but Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer ever for this reason

03/22/2025 06:00 PM

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most lethal goalscorer in history – but Lionel Messi edges him in the never-ending ‘greatest of all time’ debate.

That’s the view of Arsenal legend Martin Keown, who believes the Barcelona legend is the superior dribbler.

Ronaldo and Messi have sealed their place in history as two of the best ever players – winning a combined 13 Ballon d’Or’s and nine Champions League crowns.

Al Nassr striker Ronaldo is on course to become the first player to find the back of the net 1,000 times having done so on 928 occasions from his glittering career so far.

While Inter Miami forward Messi, who is on 854 career goals, continues to wow fans since making the move to America where he regularly leaves spectators in awe.

As some fans and pundits just try to appreciate the pair for the elite players they are, many often speculate who is the superior player.

Those that appreciate technical traits and dazzling dribbling tend to opt for Messi, while Ronaldo gets the nod from fans that favour ball-striking abilities.

And that’s the case for Arsenal Invincible Keown, who has given World Cup 2022 winner Messi the nod over the Euro 2016 champion.

Keown has first-hand experience playing against Ronaldo, with the pair starting in the infamous Battle of Old Trafford in September 2003 which saw Arsenal held to a 0-0 draw at Manchester United in a feisty affair.

But speaking to talkSPORT.com, Keown has declared his game was elevated following his then-world record £80million move to Real Madrid in 2019.

Asked whether he knew he was a special player from their meeting against each other, Keown said: “The step-over thing, once he decided to stop overdoing it and focusing on…

“I think when he went centrally at Real Madrid, he became kind of like an inside forward really.

“And I think the wingers in this game have always been the best players.

“But once they start to move centrally, they can cause all sorts of trouble, as we’re seeing now with [Mohamed] Salah.

“Salah has taken up that mantle, playing just in off the line, great pace is of course important and you have to have that ability to hit the back of the net.

“But Ronaldo, his leap as well… is he better than Messi? Is he [Messi] better than Ronaldo?

“I think we’re lucky to have two of that quality in the same generation.

“But maybe Messi, he’s more naturally gifted running with the ball, virtually on top of it.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Honours

“But Ronaldo is a very close second.”

Ronaldo will be looking to show his class once more as he hopes to spearhead Portugal to a comeback victory over Denmark in Sunday’s Nations League quarter-final second leg.

And while Keown has acknowledged Ronaldo as being a freak of nature in terms of his longevity and goalscoring heroics, he has admitted that he is longer at the peak of his powers.

Discussing his career, he remarked: “Well first of all, congratulations to anybody who gets to 40 years of age and to be still playing football.

“His numbers are just ridiculous, I think we’re on about 1,200 games here, I’ve lost count of the amount of goals [928] that he’s on.

“Just to be able to play those number of games, to be that consistent with your health with being out there.

“You’re almost a freak [of nature] really to be on the pitch that often, you have to be very lucky, very professional.

“But to be making the difference so many times in those games is quite remarkable.

“I don’t know where he is with his international [appearances now], he’s almost got as many games playing for Portugal as some players – good players – what is it, 250 appearances now [218] for his national team?

“Some players are retiring and have not played that many games, just at club level.

“So it is remarkable, I do feel like he’s gone past his best, but I like the way he has recreated himself.

“In 2021 he was at Manchester United and you could see it [slow decline], couldn’t we?

“Even though he was the third best goalscorer in the Premier League that year, he wasn’t quite what he was.

“So he’s in Saudi Arabia now and he’ll decide, he’ll tell us when he’s ready to finish, but up to now it’s just been remarkable.”