The debate over who is the greatest of all time (GOAT) in football has been raging for years. The two players most often mentioned in this debate are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. While both players have achieved remarkable success, there is no clear answer to the question of who is the GOAT.

Recently, renowned football pundit Graham Hunter weighed in on the debate. At the Cheltenham Science Festival this week, he declared that Messi is the GOAT. He cited the fact that Messi and Ronaldo are the only two players in history to have scored more than 800 goals, and that between them they have won 76 major trophies.

It is undeniable that both Messi and Ronaldo have had incredible careers. Messi has won the Ballon d’Or six times, a record he shares with Ronaldo. He has also won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, and six Copa del Rey titles. He has scored an incredible 636 goals in 719 appearances for Barcelona.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, has won five Ballon d’Or awards, three Premier League titles, five Champions League titles, and two La Liga titles. He has scored an impressive 727 goals in 973 appearances for Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United.

Both players have also had tremendous success on the international stage. Messi has won the Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2008, and has scored 70 goals in 138 appearances for his country. Ronaldo has won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016, and has scored 99 goals in 164 appearances for his country.

Despite the impressive achievements of both players, Graham Hunter believes that Messi is the GOAT. He argues that Messi has been more consistent than Ronaldo over the course of his career, and that he has been able to achieve success in a variety of different leagues and competitions.

Of course, the debate over who is the GOAT will continue to rage on. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide who they believe is the greatest of all time. However, it is clear that both Messi and Ronaldo have had remarkable careers, and that they will both be remembered as two of the greatest players in the history of the game.