'%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)
What's the story?
Chelsea star Eden Hazard has recently weighed in on modern football's most hotly-debated topic: who is the greatest player of all time?
In case you didn't know...
The question has centred around two notable players - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - for over a decade, giving birth to a rivalry that is unprecedented in the history of the game.
After coming straight out of La Masia, Messi established himself as Catalonia's legend, winning multiple titles for the side, all while remaining completely loyal to them. The Argentine ace has swooped several individual records as well and has won an incredible five Ballon d'Ors so far.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, has tried his luck in different European leagues, winning trophies with Manchester United in the Premier League and Real Madrid in La Liga. Last summer, the Portuguese forward moved to Serie A giants Juventus, in what appears to be a bid to win trophies in a third European top league. Like Messi, the 33-year-old also boasts of five Ballon d'Or awards.
Also see : Womens World Cup Bracket, Copa America Standings, Gold Cup Standings
The heart of the matter
Despite all the comparisons between the two, Hazard believes that there is only one player worthy of the 'greatest of all time' tag: Messi.
Speaking to HLN, the Chelsea star said, "Two G.O.A.T.s (Greatest of All Time) you say? No way. There is only one G.O.A.T: Him, Lionel Messi!"
The Belgian forward went on to say that meeting the Barcelona maestro in 2018 was difficult for him.
"Those two games against Barcelona were not my best memories of 2018. I was happy to play against Barcelona and Messi, but I didn’t deliver what I expected. I was disillusioned.
"My three sons were there for the home match at Stamford Bridge. The eldest is a big Messi fan - all of us are Messi fans, actually. He wanted to see Messi that day because Messi is a special player."
What's next?
The debate is never-ending for a reason and is set to continue even long after the talismanic duo will hang up their boots.
