Former Real Madrid and England manager Fabio Capello has named his list of the greatest football players of all time, placing Lionel Messi above Cristiano Ronaldo.
Capello believes Messi is on the same level as legends like Pelé and Diego Maradona, while Ronaldo is ranked alongside Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazário.
In an interview with FlashScore, Capello acknowledged that Messi and Ronaldo are not far apart in terms of talent and achievements but expressed his preference for the Argentine maestro.
“When someone claims that title, they mark it themselves, they’ve done their homework, they haven’t listened to others—I think they’ve exaggerated a bit,” Capello said.
“In short, they’ve played both the student and the teacher, haven’t they? A great player, built with desire and determination. But when I talk about true phenomena, I say Messi, I say Pelé, I say Maradona—and I put Ronaldo ‘O Fenômeno’ right next to them. He’s just a hair below.”
Capello’s admiration for Messi is well-documented. At the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards, he declared Messi as the greatest of all time (GOAT). He also once revealed that he wanted to sign Messi just 25 minutes after watching him play for Barcelona in a pre-season match.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo recently claimed that he is the most complete player to have ever played football, placing himself above Messi, Pelé, Maradona, and other legends.
DAILY MENTOR reports that the debate over the GOAT in football continues to spark passionate discussions among fans and experts alike. Capello’s ranking adds another perspective to the ongoing conversation, highlighting the unique qualities of both Messi and Ronaldo while giving the edge to the Argentine.