‘I played against Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar’ - Newcastle & Brazil star Bruno Guimaraes picks his GOAT

The Brazil international is currently on the books of Newcastle United, who he helped to a long-awaited major trophy in 2025 when lifting the Carabao Cup. He has also reached 33 senior caps for his country and will be hoping to grace the World Cup finals in 2026.

Bruno could come up against more iconic figures there, while gracing the same Selecao squad as Neymar, but he is in no doubt as to who the best player on the planet is - with a record-breaking collection of honours, including eight Ballons d’Or, proving as much.

Bruno told TNT Sports when discussing his toughest opponents and who, for him, stands out as being the greatest player of all-time: “I've played against Messi, Cristiano, Neymar... I choose Messi.”

It was during his days at Lyon, when facing Paris Saint-Germain, that Bruno first came up against Messi. He has previously told the Charla podcast of that somewhat surreal experience: “There was a time when we were playing Lyon and PSG. Messi was already at PSG. We were about to start the game. The referee gave a minute or so. Man, I saw Messi doing this gesture. I thought, 'Man, is he talking to me?' Messi was calling me over, gesturing like that (waving gesture). I went over, shook his hand, and he hugged me.

“Man, Messi called me over to talk to him! I couldn't believe he was talking to me. I swear to God, there's a video of that moment on the internet. So I went over. He said: 'How are you?' I said: 'All good, and you?' And then the game started or something like that. I was so excited! There's a video online.

“When he dribbles the ball, it's like he puts Super Glue on his foot; the ball never leaves his control! Wow! The guys told me to cover the left side. But it's Messi! You can't stop him, you can't. But in that game, I managed to mark him well. Yeah, he didn't score, thank God that didn't happen.”

Messi is now plying his trade in MLS for Inter Miami, while evergreen Portuguese superstar Ronaldo is still going strong at 40 years of age for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. Neymar, meanwhile, is back where it all began for him after joining Santos on a short-term contract.