USMNT star Weah making case for bigger Juve role next season

Have Liverpool really hired their own Ten Hag in Slot?

Columbus Crew one win in Mexico away from MLS immortality

Russo, Mead & Arsenal can warn WSL by denting City's title bid

Will Sancho stay at BVB? Winger still in dark over his future

Antonio reveals what Klopp said to Salah during touchline row

Lehmann prepares for summer in Louis Vuitton two-piece

Sullivan signs huge Union contract ahead of Man City move 

Tuchel blames 'greedy' Kim for both Real Madrid goals 

Beckham reacts to another 'record-breaking' MLS crowd

‘Everything but’ – Why Reynolds & McElhenney aren’t helping U.S. soccer

Rooney lands first big job since being axed by Brady & Co at Birmingham

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Eternal rivals have rewritten the history books</li><li>Boast countless records between them</li><li>Greatest of all-time debate continue to rage</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Cristiano Ronaldo told he is 'not a genius' like Lionel Messi as Fabio Capello insists answer to GOAT question is 'very simple'

Portuguese superstar <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/goat-cristiano-why-ronaldo-lionel-messi-man-utd-team-mate/blt5f71241b734ad018" target="_blank">Ronaldo is the only man to have got close to eternal rival Messi</a> over the course of their remarkable playing careers. Two all-time greats boast 13 Ballons d’Or between them and countless entries in the history books.

WHAT HAPPENED?

They are <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-together-bomb-real-madrid-star-dani-carvajal-refuses-pick-between-monsters-goat-debate/blt87ddb116237d421f" target="_blank">two of the most decorated players to have ever graced the game</a> – claiming domestic, continental and international honours – with their exploits on the goalscoring front unlikely to be repeated. Capello is, however, eager to point out that one star rises higher than the other when it comes to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-goat-debate-bayern-munich-thomas-muller-picks-winner-explains-choice/blt3ed1f1787d8c6feb" target="_blank">comparisons between two icons of world football</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The former Real Madrid and Juventus boss told reporters at the Laureus World Sport Awards: “[Ronaldo] is a great player. He won titles, he won the Ballon d’Or, but as I said before, it’s not as great as how Messi has been. For me, if you talk to me about Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi, I will say Messi. Ronaldo is a great scorer, shoots, does everything, knows how to do everything, but he is not a genius. Very simple.”

WHAT CAPELLO SAID

Ronaldo and Messi are both going strong in 2024, despite now being 39 and 36 years of age respectively. CR7 has<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-goal-message-rivals-portugal-al-nassr-superstar-1000/bltf77588a501ef4789" target="_blank"> broken the 40-goal barrier again at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr</a>, while his Argentine foe is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/explained-why-lionel-messi-become-nightmare-for-mls-inter-miami-rivals-running-scared/blt113fe929e347869b" target="_blank">starring for Inter Miami in MLS</a>, and both have international trophies to chase down this summer at European Championship and Copa America events.

WHAT NEXT?

Cristiano Ronaldo told he is 'not a genius' like Lionel Messi as Fabio Capello insists answer to GOAT question is 'very simple' | Goal.com US

Cristiano Ronaldo is “not a genius” like Lionel Messi, says Fabio Capello, with the Italian claiming the answer to any GOAT question is “very simple”.

Editors' Picks