Home
In a surprising move, the U.S. President Donald Trump has overlooked Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi when asked to name the greatest footballer of all time, opting instead for Brazilian icon Pele.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi: Titans of modern football
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated the sport for nearly two decades, boasting a combined 13 Ballon d'Or titles. Ronaldo, currently playing for Saudi club Al Nassr, has enjoyed a prolific career with stints at Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
The 40-year-old forward has amassed over 800 goals in 1,062 club matches and clinched domestic league titles in England, Spain, and Italy. He has also lifted the Champions League trophy five times and won the European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles with Portugal.
Lionel Messi, now with Inter Miami in the MLS, carved out a legendary career at Barcelona before a brief spell with Paris Saint-Germain. At 38, he has notched 771 goals in 951 club appearances.
Messi has won four Champions League titles and numerous league championships in both Spain and France. On the international stage, he guided Argentina to victory in two Copa America tournaments and crowned his achievements with a World Cup win in 2022 after a dramatic penalty shootout against France.
Donald Trump’s pick for the GOAT: A nostalgic nod to Pele
While many football fans and analysts continue to debate between Messi and Ronaldo, Trump had a different choice. Speaking to DAZN, the former president reflected on his youth and the impact of watching Pele in the United States.
Many years ago, when I was young, they brought a player named Pele to play, and he played for a team called the Cosmos, Trump recalled. He was the inspiration we had, and this place was packed... It was an earlier version of this stadium, but right here in the Meadowlands, and it was Pele.
I don’t want to date myself, but that was a long time ago. I was a young guy, and I came to watch Pele and he was fantastic... That’s like saying Babe Ruth, but I would say Pele was so great.
Pele's enduring legacy
Pele, whose full name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, spent the majority of his club career with Santos before joining the New York Cosmos.
Internationally, he was a phenomenon, scoring 77 goals in 92 matches for Brazil and leading the nation to World Cup victories in 1958, 1962, and 1970. The football world mourned his passing in December 2022 at the age of 82.
As the U.S. prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, Trump's comments offer a nostalgic perspective amid a new era of global football icons.
ADVERTISEMENT
