“[Lionel] Messi is the Greatest Player” – Jan Åge Fjørtoft Hails Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘Greatest Goalscorer’; Says We’re ‘Blessed’ to Witness Epic Rivalry

The soccer world has recently seen one of the fiercest rivalries in sport separate from Europe. After Cristiano Ronaldo departed for the Middle East, it was only a matter of time before Lionel Messi also left the land, going in the opposite direction. But the question of who is better never ceases, and this time, in the latest EssentiallySports Exclusive interview, we had former Norwegian legend Jan Åge Fjørtoft give us his insight on what it meant for him to witness both of them.

Facing off mainly in La Liga, playing for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, they both have had a massive impact worldwide, with very little to differentiate between them. And Jan, who is also an expert on ESPN, feels the same.

In the EssentiallySports Exclusive interview, we asked him about their impetus and the many careers going under the radar due to their legacy. And the former Norwegian player of the year started off by saying, “I think we’re blessed that we have seen two great players like two of them,” before diving deeper into the reasons.

Jan who captained Norway and also played in multiple top leagues, including the Premier League, knows what it takes to compete at the highest level. He further applauded their consistency, saying, “Not only have they done it one season or two seasons, these guys have done it for 15 years. Going to see their stats, having goals scored and titles won, of course they play for Real Madrid; they play for Manchester United and FC Barcelona; they played for the best teams, but still amazing players, and I’ve never been into this thing that who is the best,” citing the difficulty in choosing anyone.

Jan Åge Fjørtoft gives his take on the GOAT debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

No genuine soccer fan can undermine either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Their contributions to the sport have been immense. Both won 13 Ballon d’Ors together and scored more than 1650 goals. Nevertheless, Jan points out one difference between the magicians.

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Speaking about his goal-scoring prowess in the EssentiallySports Exclusive interview, Fjørtoft stated, “If I was put on the spot to say, I would say that Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest goalscorer of all time, and I would say Messi is the greatest player because what Messi is doing is amazing.” The view is also held by other experts.

The stats also put Ronaldo as the record scorer in the world with 876 goals. Lionel Messi, on the other hand, has 821 goals but 113 more assists than his Portuguese counterpart. However, with all the joy that both of them brought to the fans, the sport should cherish their game as long as they play.

READ MORE – What He Can Do Walking Around” – Jan Åge Fjørtoft Hails to Lionel Messi’s Greatest Skill That Sets Him Apart From Other Soccer Stars