A former Manchester United star has claimed there's one key reason Lionel Messi will remembered more than Cristiano Ronaldo when they pass away.
The Ronaldo-Messi rivalry continues to split opinions among those in football and fans alike, with the debate having now existed for well over a decade.
In addition to both of them scoring over 700 career goals, the two superstars share 12 Ballon d'Or awards between them, with seven for the Argentine and five for the Portuguese striker.
The recent 2022 FIFA World Cup has added more fuel to the debate after Messi led Argentina to their first title since 1986, as the triumph is considered by many as the deciding factor in the conversation.
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Ronaldo's ex-teammate during his first spell at Old Trafford, Kieran Richardson, has insisted that both players can be considered the greatest of all time but that one thing will forever separate them.
"They're both the GOATs," Richardson told talkSPORT. "But, if I had to pick one, then I have to pick Messi, even though I know Ronaldo, I've played with Ronaldo, I love Ronaldo.
"They're both amazing, they're both GOATs.
"When they pass away, they'll still be talked about forever, but just because Messi got that World Cup.
"It's a massive thing having that World Cup, because even before Messi had the World Cup, everyone was saying 'yeah, but he hasn't won it yet'.
"He can't be the best of all time because [Diego] Maradona won it, Pele won it'.
"Now there is no question, he's won the pinnacle any footballer would want to win. Even though they get their own accolades, World Player of the Year so many times, but as a footballer, when you're thinking as a kid, you want to win a World Cup.
"That's all you want to win."
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