Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited football’s most enduring debate who is the greatest player of all time by saying that a single World Cup should not determine who deserves that title.
In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, Ronaldo was asked whether Lionel Messi’s 2022 World Cup triumph made him the undisputed greatest in history. The Portuguese forward disagreed firmly.
“You want the World Cup to decide who the greatest player in history is? One tournament with six or seven games, do you think that’s fair?” Ronaldo said.
Ronaldo’s comments come nearly three years after Messi lifted the trophy with Argentina in Qatar, a victory many fans saw as sealing the debate in his favour. But the Al Nassr star believes greatness should be measured over a career not one month of football.
The 40-year-old, who remains the highest goalscorer in football history and is closing in on 1,000 career goals, suggested that consistency, longevity and overall impact should weigh more heavily than a single tournament.
In the same interview, Ronaldo also offered praise for Arsenal, saying he believes the Premier League side “have what it takes to win the title this season”.
Meanwhile, speculation continues about Ronaldo’s future. Former Portugal teammate Nani recently suggested that the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada could be his final appearance on the world stage.
“If he can win it, that will be the perfect ending,” Nani said. “He’ll finally be able to sit back, drink his coffee and enjoy peace.”
