Ending the GOAT debate: 5 reasons why Lionel Messi will always remain far better than Cristiano Ronaldo 

#4 Lionel Messi is the flag bearer and portrays football as an art

Real Betis Balompie v FC Barcelona - La Liga

Football in it's purest form is art and statistics will never fully justify the beautiful game. All the numbers about goals, assists, pre-assists etc can never full depict the impact of a footballer, more so someone like Lionel Messi.

Like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo will retire as one of the greatest of all time. Despite his staggering statistics, he cannot match the visual experience and evidence which Lionel Messi provides with each of his movements on the pitch. At times, both are not even on the same plane- there are some things which even great Ronaldo can never do.

Some of the movements of the Argentine genius are inexplicable. Unlike Ronaldo, Messi cannot be reduced to any other statistical criteria due to the consistent magic moments Messi provide in almost each and every week. Even the best statisticians cannot possibly quantify e the uncountable moments of magic Messi has provided throughout the career.

In a media-driven era, it will be futile to ask anyone to judge the game without statistics, but watching Messi is a religious experience- something which cannot be comprehended by merely goals and assists or by highlight reels.

Football is a game of space and movements and Lionel Messi is the champions of it's highest order, who reminds us that the beautiful game is an art.