Sergio Ramos names his GOAT after playing with both Messi and Ronaldo

April 7, 2026 Oliver Obel

Sergio Ramos has weighed in on football’s long-running GOAT debate and his answer is clear after sharing the pitch with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In an interview with PSG TV, as reported by Goal, the former Real Madrid captain did not hesitate when asked about the best player in history.
“There was suffering for several years playing against Messi. I am now enjoying him,” Ramos said.
“He is the best player football has ever produced.”

From rivals to teammates

Ramos’s stance carries unusual weight given his history. For much of his career, he was one of Messi’s fiercest opponents during El Clasico clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Those encounters were often intense and physical, with Ramos frequently assigned to contain the Argentine. Despite that, Messi consistently made decisive contributions. According to GIVEMESPORT, he remains both the top scorer in El Clasico history and La Liga’s all-time leading goalscorer.

The dynamic between the two shifted unexpectedly in 2021. Ramos left Madrid to join Paris Saint-Germain, and within weeks, Messi arrived from Barcelona in a move that surprised fans and pundits alike.

A unique perspective

While many expected tension between the former rivals, the opposite proved true. Ramos and Messi quickly developed an understanding on the pitch during their time in Paris.

Before that, Ramos had spent nearly a decade alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid, where the pair were central to one of the club’s most successful eras, winning multiple Champions League titles and domestic honours.

That experience playing extensively with both players places Ramos in a rare position to compare them directly.

Why Messi gets the nod

Messi’s case is built on both longevity and achievement. The Argentine has maintained an elite level for close to two decades and capped his career with a World Cup victory in 2022, widely seen as the final major honour missing from his résumé.

Ronaldo, however, remains a central figure in the debate. The Portuguese forward has continued scoring at a remarkable rate into his late 30s and still commands strong support from fans who view his consistency and physical dominance as unmatched.

Rather than ending the debate, Ramos’s comments add another high-profile voice to a discussion that has defined modern football.

Not his toughest opponent

Interestingly, Ramos has suggested that neither Messi nor Ronaldo was the most difficult player he faced.

Reflecting on past opponents, he pointed to another Barcelona legend:
“For me, the most unstoppable is Ronaldinho. In his best time, hardly any defender could face him.”

He also mentioned players such as Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimović as particularly challenging due to their speed and physical presence.

Sources: Goal, PSG TV, GIVEMESPORT, Transfermarkt