Piers Morgan names ‘advantage’ Cristiano Ronaldo still has over Lionel Messi in GOAT debate

According to a report by Sky Sports on Tuesday October 13, 2026, British broadcaster Piers Morgan has explained why he believes Cristiano Ronaldo has an advantage over Lionel Messi in the long-running debate over football’s greatest player of all time.

Speaking to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, Morgan argued that Ronaldo’s achievements in different leagues and his remarkable goalscoring records give him the edge over the Argentine superstar.

Morgan acknowledged Messi’s status as one of the greatest footballers in history but insisted that Ronaldo has challenged himself more by playing in different countries throughout his career.

“Ronaldo, I think, has tested himself and challenged himself a lot more than Messi did,” Morgan said.

The broadcaster also argued that Diego Maradona ranks above Messi among Argentina’s greatest footballers, adding another controversial opinion to the ongoing debate surrounding the two modern-day legends.

Explaining the main reason behind his preference, Morgan pointed to Ronaldo’s statistical achievements, including his league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia, as well as his goalscoring records for club and country.

“The advantage Ronaldo has is statistics,” he added, insisting that the Portuguese forward’s achievements would stand the test of time.

According to the report, Ronaldo had scored 981 career goals at the time of publication, compared with Messi’s 934. The Al-Nassr striker had also registered 146 goals for Portugal.

However, Morgan admitted that the debate remains subjective, acknowledging that football fans are entitled to favour Messi instead.

Ronaldo and Messi have dominated discussions about football’s greatest player for more than a decade, winning numerous individual awards and major trophies during their careers.

While Morgan believes Ronaldo’s statistics and success across different leagues strengthen his case, Messi’s supporters continue to point to his achievements, playing style and international success, including Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph.

FootySport feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com