Tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz has stirred controversy in the eternal Ronaldo-Messi debate by naming Cristiano Ronaldo as the greatest footballer of all time while surprisingly omitting Lionel Messi from his top-five list.
The four-time Grand Slam winner and known Real Madrid supporter ranked Ronaldo at the top of his "five greatest footballers of all time" list, which also included Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Ronaldinho, and Neymar Jr. The glaring absence of eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi immediately sparked criticism from fans worldwide.
The Ronaldo versus Messi debate has been a contentious topic among football enthusiasts for over 15 years and shows no signs of resolution even as both players approach the twilight of their careers. While Messi has traditionally remained silent on the subject, Ronaldo has frequently asserted that he considers himself the greatest player in football history, above not only his Argentine rival but also legends like Pele and Diego Maradona.
Following the backlash to his controversial list, Alcaraz quickly took to Instagram to clarify his position, writing: "Can't believe I said those 5 forgetting Messi and few more. I could say 5 different right now." This attempt to smooth over the situation suggests the young tennis star may have spoken without careful consideration rather than deliberately snubbing the Argentine icon.
Both football superstars continue their careers on different continents, with Messi currently preparing to represent Argentina in an upcoming World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay on March 21. Meanwhile, Ronaldo will lead Portugal as captain in their Nations League quarter-final first leg against Denmark on March 20.
The incident highlights how the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry continues to transcend football, drawing opinions from celebrities and athletes across different sports, and remains a divisive topic that evokes passionate responses from fans around the world.
