TMessi or Cristiano Ronaldo, the debate will last forever. On this subject, an authority has published a quote that perfectly describes the feeling of having to choose the best. Former Manchester United player Phil Jones had simple, yet powerful words to explain the situation.
Choosing between Ronaldo and Messi is like choosing between your mother and father
However, the Englishman ended up falling for fellow footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom he shared a dressing room during their time at Old Trafford.
Phil Jones chooses Cristiano Ronaldo as GOAT
Not all former players can boast of having lived closely with both. Phil Jones is Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammate at Manchester United and has played against Lionel Messi on numerous occasions, making him an authoritative voice on the issue.
For Jones, the comparison goes beyond numbers and trophies. It’s about two different styles that have dominated soccer for over 20 years and pushed each other to unprecedented levels.
In addition to choosing Cristiano Ronaldo as the player with the most aura, Phil Jones chose Robin van Persie as the best finisher, Paul Scholes as the best playmaker and Sergio Ramos as the best defender of all time. He chose Gianluigi Buffon for the goalkeeper position, Ryan Giggs as the most unbalanced player and Zinedine Zidane as the player who hits the ball the most. Ultimately, when asked about the GOAT, Jones likened it to an impossible family decision, but ultimately chose former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi and Cristiano: numbers that seem unrealistic
Statistics support why this debate is still so active. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 961 goals in all competitions, while Lionel Messi has scored 896 goals for club and country. They are two of the top scorers in the history of professional soccer.
Ronaldo has scored over 100 goals with four different clubs, including his current team Al Nasr, and also with the Portugal national team. Messi, on the other hand, developed a unique relationship with goal at Barcelona, scoring over 650 goals in 17 seasons, and also shined for Argentina.
Currently, both are still mainstays in their respective leagues. Cristiano Ronaldo has started 2026 on a high note by scoring his 18th goal of the season for Al Nasr. However, he now appears to be on the verge of leaving the team due to disagreements with the investor group that controls Saudi football.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi awaits the start of the 2026 season against LAFC on February 21st with a mission to defend the MLS championship.
