Sergio Ramos Named His GOAT After Playing With Ronaldo and Messi

Summary
Sergio Ramos is one of the rare footballers who has played alongside both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Ramos had an odd bromance with Messi at PSG.
The Spanish defender had more success playing alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid.
Sergio Ramos made his final conclusion on the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) controversy after playing alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Several years ago, the idea of Ramos and Messi playing together seemed far-fetched. During their highly successful stints at Real Madrid and Barcelona, the two faced off for more than a decade.

Messi frequently received violent treatment by Ramos, who has been sent off more times than any other footballer in the history of Europe’s top five leagues. Regardless, Messi consistently outperformed the Spaniard. The great Argentine forward has scored the most goals in El Clasico’s history.

Ramos left Madrid to join Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent in July 2021. Like the rest of the world, the Spanish defender was taken aback when Barcelona icon Messi joined him at the Parc des Princes a month later. Many football fans expected the pair’s relationship to remain, at best, icy. However, the superstars immediately put aside their rivalries and formed an unexpected bromance on the pitch.

Prior to it, he had spent much of his career playing alongside Messi’s greatest rival, Ronaldo. Throughout their careers, the Argentine and Portuguese superstars have been compared frequently. The debate about who is the greatest player of all time has raged for nearly two decades and is certain to continue for many years to come. Having played with both players, Ramos had an opinion on who he thought was the finest ever.

Ramos Selected His GOAT

The Spaniard Chose Messi Over Ronaldo

After nearly two years of training and playing alongside Messi, Ramos declared him the greatest footballer in history. According to Goal, the defender said in an interview with PSG TV that he considers the former Barcelona player to be the greatest football player of all time. Coming from a former Real Madrid player, this was rather surprising. Ramos said:

“Playing against Messi was excruciatingly painful for several years. I’m now enjoying him.

“He is the best player football has ever produced.”

Yes, it appears Ramos has decided that Messi is the greatest of all time. This is despite the Spaniard spent nearly a decade playing with Ronaldo at Real Madrid. The pair won almost everything there was to win at club level with Los Blancos, but it only took two years in France with Messi to solidify Ramos’ opinion on who was the greatest player of all time.

Messi has been amazing from the start of his career, setting records for Barcelona, La Liga, Argentina, and, most likely, Inter Miami. He’s been killing teams for nearly 20 years, and it’s easy to see why Ramos believes he’s the best, even though Ronaldo has a strong argument.

Sergio Ramos’ numbers alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Years of playing together.

Games

Points per game.

Participate in a joint aim

Minutes

With Cristiano Ronaldo.

2009-2018

339

2.27

15

28,441

With Lionel Messi.

2021-2023

46

2.30

2

6,672

Messi and Ronaldo are both legends.
Place in Football Folklore is secure.

While Ramos’ comments likely wounded Ronaldo in particular, the centre-back was simply expressing the sentiments of many other football fans after the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner won the World Cup with Argentina in December 2022. Messi has now won everything in football and has nothing left to prove to anyone as he approaches the end of his incredible playing career.

Messi understands that regardless of what he accomplishes between now and the day he retires, his place as one of the best players, if not the greatest, of all time is secure.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, has his own fan base, with many believing that the former Manchester United star is the greatest footballer in history. It’s easy to understand why, as the 39-year-old continues to perform at an extraordinary level despite approaching his 40th birthday.

The years when the two stars faced off in La Liga, with Barcelona and Real Madrid sharing victories in El Clasico and vying for domination over Spain, will be remembered as some of the most exciting in football history. We’d never seen two players compete at such high levels in the way they did.

Regardless of who is ultimately the greatest of all time, there is no doubt that these two stand head and shoulders above the vast majority of those who have ever laced up their boots.

Ramos chose Ronaldinho as his toughest opponent, stating that he is “the most unstoppable.”

Although Ramos clearly admires Messi and Ronaldo, he has suggested that one other football star is more tough to defend than the two of them. Indeed, he named another La Liga icon, saying:

“For me, the most unstoppable player is Ronaldinho. Almost no defence could stand up to him at his peak.

He also mentioned some other players he saw as difficult opponents, saying, “But there are others like Samuel Eto’o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who could cause problems with their speed or physicality.” It’s fair to say Ramos has faced some exceptional players throughout the years. That he is still held in such high regard demonstrates just how good he was.