Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has weighed in on the captivating GOAT debate involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The ongoing debate over who is the greatest between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has intrigued footballing figures for years, and former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is no stranger to the discussion.
Both players have dominated the footballing landscape for over a decade with Messi's World Cup win and Ballon d'Or advantage perhaps giving him an edge.
The Argentine superstar has now won two Copa America titles to go with his triumph in Qatar.
![Lionel Messi has now won 45 titles in his career, the most by an inidividual.](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/15072024/08ddf60e-1167-4175-ab81-dbe61e3a8da9.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
Right after the 2022 World Cup, Jurgen Klopp responded to the GOAT question via (WION).
![Messi vs Ronaldo: Overwhelming stat shows which GOAT is better at international tournaments](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/06072024/dd2b2613-89e6-4643-86da-6085ffba3fe4.png?operations=fit(180:))
09:54 - 06.07.2024
Messi vs Ronaldo: Overwhelming stat shows which GOAT is better at international tournaments
One-half of the GOAT debate gets an extra string to their bow with the revelation of a key stat.
Klopp picks Messi over Ronaldo
The greatest footballer in my lifetime, Lionel Messi, the way he plays football in this age should give us all a hint at how long footballers can perform at the top level.
![Jurgen Klopp](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/04052024/acabffc6-dfe5-4a3a-9792-77af9da9c20f.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
![](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/21022024/9c7d26a8-2a9b-4452-8494-6450293e16bd.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
![](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/11052024/054fcda9-53c5-4668-a5d1-a6b103fb9909.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
We shouldn’t close the books too early. It was a joy to watch him,"
![Messi was the MVP as Argentina won the 2022 World Cup](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/04112023/156b4892-cd36-4f49-b2db-8fe4a94354c5.jpg?operations=fit(480:))
This is not the first time Klopp has praised Messi as the greatest player. Back in 2018 he picked the Argentine over Ronaldo in an interview saying:
"Messi makes everything look so simple. And therefore, I like him maybe a little bit more as a player on the pitch. But Cristiano is also an incredible player."
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