'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former Jamaican sprinter and the greatest of all time, Usain Bolt, was asked about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi during the 2024 Laureus Sports Awards. Bolt shared his thoughts on the GOAT debate and went with the Portuguese megastar.
"Without a doubt, I am a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo. Jude Bellingham looks like he is capable of becoming a star in the future. I have a lot of respect for many players. We can't deny that Lionel Messi is great," he said, via 20 minutos.
This is not the first time that Usain Bolt has picked Ronaldo over Messi. He recently had the Portuguese legend among his top three footballers of all time, snubbing the Argentine superstar.
"Oh my god, I’m just gonna keep it simple I think Pele & Maradona, my favourite footballer is Cristiano Ronaldo, so those are my top 3. It’s Cristiano Ronaldo," Usain Bolt said on a TikTok video posted by Complex.
Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, while Messi has claimed the award eight times. While the Portuguese plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, the Argentine plies his trade for Inter Miami in the MLS.
Usain Bolt says it's not easy to pick between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Usain Bolt has addressed the GOAT debate numerous times. He usually goes with Ronaldo, because he is a big fan of the Portuguese superstar. Still, he has admitted that it is not an easy task for him to pick between the two when it comes to who the greatest is.
"It is difficult for me to choose because I support Argentina. I admire Ronaldo since he played for Manchester United and I support the Red Devils. Messi is very talented. From what I’ve learned and listened to over the years, Cristiano had to work to get where he is. I was born with speed and had a lot of talent [like Messi]," Usain Bolt told Omnisport in 2021, via Essentially Sports.
Despite their age, Ronaldo and Messi are still performing at a high level. The Portuguese has scored 36 goals and assisted 12 in 37 games this season, while the Argentine has netted nine times and turned provider five times in nine outings this campaign.
