The debate over football’s Greatest of All Time (GOAT) between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has lasted for nearly two decades, but Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami has made his choice clear, Soccernet.ng reports.
Fans across the world, including Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, have argued for many years over whether Messi or Ronaldo deserves the GOAT title. The rivalry inherited the spotlight from previous football generations that debated between Pele and Diego Maradona, two players who dominated world football during Odegbami’s era.
While many supporters believe the Inter Miami star settled the argument when he led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar, both legends have continued to add to their remarkable records. Even at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Messi and Ronaldo are still making history despite being in the final stages of their careers.
The numbers behind the debate remain extraordinary. Messi has scored 933 career goals and provided 390 assists, giving him 1,323 goal contributions. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has scored 985 goals and registered 262 assists, producing 1,247 goal contributions.
The Argentine great has also won eight Ballon d’Or awards and 45 major trophies during his career, while Ronaldo has claimed five Ballon d’Or trophies and 34 major titles.
Odegbami explains why Messi stands above everyone
Despite the impressive achievements of both players, Odegbami believes Messi operates on a different level.
The former Super Eagles captain did not hide his admiration for the Argentine superstar as he explained why he sees Messi as football’s greatest player.
“Lionel Messi. Can a tree make a forest? In his case he can,” he wrote in the Vanguard.
Odegbami then delivered perhaps his strongest praise yet for the 39-year-old World Cup winner.
“Messi is a god! He is the only player in the world now who plays completely freely, without guidance and as economically as he chooses on the field. He walks and struts as he pleases, with an occasional sudden burst of dangerous speed on the field as he pleases. Planning to mark him has been a challenge for opposing managers.
“Messi is treated with reverence on the field by his team.”
According to Odegbami, Messi’s influence extends beyond his individual performances. He believes the presence of the Argentine captain transforms the entire team and gives them a confidence few international sides can match.
“I also think that his presence makes the entire Argentine team to play with bewildering ease, with calmness and confidence bordering on arrogance. They play as if they are ordained champions already.”
With Messi ahead of Ronaldo in Odegbami’s personal ranking, it has ended any doubt about where the Nigerian football icon stands in the sport’s biggest individual debate.
Messi’s record-breaking 2026 World Cup strengthens his case
Barcelona great Messi has continued to produce historic performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Argentina opened their Group J campaign on June 16 with a 3-0 victory over Algeria at Kansas City Stadium. The 39-year-old stole the headlines by scoring a stunning hat-trick, the first World Cup hat-trick of his career. The performance also made him the oldest player in tournament history to score three goals in a single World Cup match.
Six days later, on June 22, Argentina faced Austria at Dallas Stadium. Despite missing an early penalty, Messi recovered brilliantly and scored twice to secure a 2-0 victory that guaranteed Argentina’s place in the Round of 32.
After just two matches, the former PSG forward had already scored five goals from six shots on target, averaging one goal every 34 minutes.
The Argentine captain’s explosive start has also seen him break several long-standing records. His goals against Austria took his World Cup tally to 18, moving him past Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the highest scorer in men’s World Cup history. He also surpassed Brazil’s Marta to become the highest scorer across both men’s and women’s World Cup competitions.
Messi has additionally set a new record for the most World Cup match victories with 18 wins and joined an exclusive group of players to score in six consecutive World Cup matches.
Interestingly, Ronaldo has equally strengthened his own legacy by becoming the first player to score in six separate World Cups. Still, Odegbami believes Messi’s combination of goals, creativity, influence and trophies makes him football’s ultimate player.
