Laura Woods revealed who she would choose out of ex-Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona icon Lionel Messi during a quick-fire ‘Champions League legends’ Q&A.
Ronaldo has enjoyed incredible success in Europe’s top-flight club competition, winning his first Champions League title under Sir Alex Ferguson at United in 2008.
The 38-year-old Portuguese forward built on his Champions League success at Real Madrid, with Ronaldo lifting the prized trophy a further four times in his career.
Ronaldo, who was once asked if he would trade in all of his Champions League medals for a World Cup, is tied for the most Champions League trophy wins at five.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is also the all-time leading scorer in UEFA’s premier competition, as well as holding the record for most appearances and assists.
Messi, meanwhile, has also experienced incredible success in the Champions League and lifted the trophy four times during his legendary playing spell at Barcelona.
The 36-year-old Argentine forward is second in the all-time goalscoring chart in the Champions League, falling 11 short of Ronaldo’s impressive tally of 140.
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Woods picks between Messi and Ronaldo
Woods, who has provided Champions League coverage for TNT Sports, sat down with Goal and was asked to pick between one of two ‘Champions League legends.’
From Robert Lewandowski vs Karim Benzema to Thierry Henry vs Kylian Mbappe, the former talkSPORT presenter faced a tough task in choosing her picks.
But when she was asked to choose between Messi and Ronaldo (via Goal’s TikTok), Woods opted for the Inter Miami star over the five-time Champions League winner.
Woods’ response surprised some of the TikTok users in the comments, considering Ronaldo’s track record in the competition and his achievements to date.
The Champions League is Ronaldo’s stage
No matter where fans align themselves on the so-called ‘GOAT’ debate between Ronaldo and Messi, there’s no denying Ronaldo’s brilliance in the Champions League.
Ronaldo might no longer play in the Champions League after his exit from Old Trafford, but his legacy in the competition will be talked about for decades to come.
The Portugal captain has produced some truly outrageous moments in the Champions League, including his world-class bicycle kick against Juventus in 2018.
There is no denying that Champions League tournaments without Ronaldo and Messi will feel unusual after their incredible era of dominance draws to a close.
But it’s still not too late for Ronaldo, who is dubbed ‘Mr Champions League,’ to return to the competition for one final time before calling it time on his career.
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