Former Chelsea and England player Joe Cole believes that Lionel Messi 'put to bed' the debate about the best player of the generation by winning the World Cup with Argentina, claiming that Cristiano Ronaldo is now a tier below the Paris Saint-Germain player.
Ronaldo, 38, did not start a knockout round tie for Portugal during the tournament, as they exited during the quarter-finals. The player had already left Manchester United before the competition in Qatar began, and returned to the Middle East soon afterwards and signed for Saudi Arabia-based side Al-Nassr as a free agent.
Messi remains a starter upfront for PSG and played the full 90 minutes of their Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich in midweek. Before that round of 16 tie, the panel of BT Sport pundits discussed the GOAT (greatest of all-time) debate.
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Asked by presenter Seema Jaswal if Messi is indeed now considered the GOAT and whether there is even a debate about it anymore, Cole answered: "There's always the debate because it's always going to be about what you think. I think what [Messi] has put to bed, though, is the debate of this generation, because he's gone and completed it now, he's won everything in the game."
Cole continued: "I've never seen a player like him, what he can do with the ball, his ability, his personality - everything. And it's just a joy to watch him every time.
"I think he's the greatest player of all time. Pele is the only one who can have an argument in that case.
"I don't think CR7 or R9 (Ronaldo Nazario) or (Diego) Maradona - I think he's gone above them. He stands next to Pele now."
Former Manchester City and United player Owen Hargreaves was not quite as keen to get drawn into the debate, sticking to just discussing Messi by describing him as "one of a kind" and "a true football genius" while admitting that the only player with a comparable combination of dribbling and speed is Maradona. City loans manager Joleon Lescott similarly stuck to solely discussing Messi.
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