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380,000 people settle out the GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Sudarshan Venkatesan
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More than 380,000 people have voted in a Twitter pool to settle out the GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have produced one of the best rivalries over the last decade. The current Barcelona forward and former Real Madrid’s top scorer have been a level above everybody else during their inordinate career.

At the age of 31 and 34, the duo is not ready to take their leg off the gas and have been rescuers for their current sides. Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Juventus for a fee of 100 million euros during the summer transfer window singlehandedly changed the tie against Atletico Madrid to take them to the last eight of the Champions League.

Without his presence, the Los Blancos have been struggling with their defensive and attacking shape. Zinedine Zidane might have taken over the club, but they are most likely to finish the season with nil major trophies for the first time since 2015.

On the other hand, Lionel Messi carried his team to the Quarterfinals of the Champions League with a brace and an assist against Olympique Lyon at Nou Camp on Wednesday. The Argentine has been almost unstoppable this term, scoring 36 goals in all competitions.

When Ernesto Valverde has decided to rest him, things have not panned out for the Blaugrana. There is no doubt that the Blaugrana will be going through a tough period when he hangs up his boots.

When one shines, the other gets in perfect shape to give a fitting reply. That was the case in this week’s Champions League.

Former England striker and current BT Sports anchor Gary Lineker posted a poll to decide the best between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on Twitter after the Portuguese International scored a hat-trick to see his team advance to the next round.

RESULT OF THE POOL

The results of the poll?

Lionel Messi has won the contest with 62 percentages of votes, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo has been allocated 38% in this poll by more than 380,000 people.

Gary Lineker has never hidden from calling Lionel Messi as the all-time greatest. The Argentine International will be guaranteed a tweet or two during every Barcelona game from the former Leicester City striker.

Wayne Rooney, who played with Cristiano Ronaldo for five years has chosen Lionel Messi over the Portuguese International as the best ever.

Rooney was asked which player he preferred, and instantly replied with “Messi”.

“Yeah, I think I’ve said this before, but they’re both probably the best two players to ever play the game. I just think Messi is, in my eyes, the greatest ever.”

There is no doubt it is one of the biggest rivalries the world football has ever witnessed. The duo has won five Ballon d’Or each which shows the number of fans they have won over in these years.

Carlos Tevez and Angel Di Maria, who have played with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have picked the best between the two.

“Cristiano had to work and prepare himself to be the best, while for Leo it comes naturally. Those are the greatest differences that I see between the two best players on the planet. Messi plays another sport. For Messi to score three goals [in any given game] is normal.” said Tevez.

Di Maria added “Messi is always the best, he’s the best every year. Cristiano Ronaldo’s a special player, but Messi’s from another planet. There are no words to describe Messi, he always surprises you.”

Many players and managers have also voted for Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo when they were asked to pick either one.

Who is your GOAT? Let us know in the comments.

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