French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz snubs Lionel Messi as he names Cristiano Ronaldo in his 5 GOATS of football

Tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz once snubbed Lionel Messi but included Cristiano Ronaldo in his list of the top five best footballers of all time. The Spaniard won the French Open this month after beating Jannik Sinner in the final.

Over the years, fans and pundits have taken their pick in the Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo debate. However, the question of who's the better footballer will perhaps forever remain unanswered. Both players are considered among the greatest to ever play the beautiful game, having won a record 13 Ballons d'Or together. Despite leaving European football around two years ago, both Messi and Ronaldo remain at the top of their game.

In an interview with Overtime Tennis, Carlos Alcaraz was asked to name his top five footballers of all time. In his list, he surprisingly did not include Lionel Messi, but Cristiano Ronaldo made it to the top of the list. Alcaraz said:

"Cristiano Ronaldo. I mean-- that's difficult as well. Sergio Ramos, then Modric. I didn't see him play too much, but what I hear and what I have seen in videos, Ronaldinho. And then I am going to go with Neymar."

However, Carlos Alcaraz quickly clarified his statement in the comment section of his interview video. He acknowledged that he forgot to mention Lionel Messi and wrote:

"Can’t believe i said those 5 forgetting Messi and few more 🤦🏽‍♂️ i could say 5 different right now."

Carlos Alcaraz's comment (Image via Instagram/overtimetennis)

Lionel Messi currently plays for MLS side Inter Miami and is back with the Argentina squad for the World Cup qualifiers in June. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo won his next trophy this month as he led Portugal to their second UEFA Nations League title this month.

When Rafael Nadal made his pick between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Messi and Ronaldo (L to R) - Source: Getty

In a 2023 interaction with his fans, Rafael Nadal was asked to make his pick between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The tennis superstar did not hesitate to pick Messi over Ronaldo, but confirmed his allegiance to the Portuguese's former club, Real Madrid.

Hailing from the city, Nadal has been an avid Madridista for a long time. He said (via Business Standard):

"Messi or Ronaldo? Messi is better, but I am a Real Madrid fan."

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With the FIFA Club World Cup round the corner, Messi will be gearing up to represent Inter Miami in the tournament. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has yet to renew his contract with Al-Nassr but has hinted that he'll stay with the Saudi side.

Once his future is sorted, Ronaldo will gear up for another season with Al-Nassr and try to win silverware with the club. Meanwhile, Messi will also be desperate to win the MLS Cup with Inter Miami after their Supporters' Shield triumph last year.

About the author

Pratyasha is a Pop Culture and a European Football writer for Sportskeeda. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and has over 3 years of experience in the pop culture industry. Throughout her career, Pratyasha has always emphasized detailed background checks, and believes in verifying all information regardless of how correct it may seem.

Pratyasha is an ardent admirer of Lionel Messi and has followed his journey since she was a kid; he inspires her with his dedication and humility. She has grown up watching, living, and breathing Satyajit Ray's cinema, which she believes is timeless. She loves Taylor Swift’s music and thinks she's a lyrical genius, and also admires Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone.

When Pratyasha's off the clock, she enjoys reading books and listening to music. During the football season, she is usually busy watching football matches late at night when Barcelona are playing.

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Edited by Pratyasha Sarkar