'I faced Messi and Ronaldo multiple times – it's clear who the greatest of all time is'

Arjen Robben has weighed in on the age-old debate of who is the greatest footballer of all time; or .

The Dutch legend, who has shared the pitch with both titans during his glittering career at clubs like , and , as well as internationally for the Netherlands, has given his verdict. Messi has made an unforgettable impact on the of football since his debut with in 2004, bagging ten titles, four Champions Leagues and seven Copa Del Reys at Camp Nou.

His magic didn't stop there, as he steered to two Ligue 1 titles following his 2021 move, and even clinched a World Cup with Argentina in 2022. His trophy cabinet also boasts eight Ballon d'Or titles, six European Golden Shoes, eight FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a plethora of other honours.

On the other hand, Ronaldo's list of accomplishments is equally impressive - three titles and a with , two La Liga trophies and four Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, and two Serie A winners' medals with .

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Given the remarkable achievements of both men in their football careers, it's a tough call to decide who is the superior player. has thrown his hat into the ring, asserting that Messi takes the crown when all is said and done.

Chatting about challenging players on the TOUZANI YouTube channel, the 40 year old expressed: "You mentioned a few really big names who are very good at it. When I talk about it with the guys. The best ever. The best. Truly the absolute absolute absolute best ever, I always ask 'does he use tricks?'," reports .

"And then the answer is no. Messi of course, he doesn't have tricks up his sleeve. He just does everything quickly. He has control, speed, and agility." At the age of 37, Messi is currently experiencing the twilight years of his illustrious career at .

The forward recently bagged a Leagues Cup shortly following his Florida move, along with securing a Supporters' Shield, adding to his impressive silverware haul this year. On the flip side, Ronaldo chose to embark on a lucrative journey to in 2023 after ending his Manchester United stint the previous year.

The now 39-year-old is showing his prowess at , having triumphed in the Arab Club Champions Cup last year. With both legends inching towards 40, they're still defying father time with their sheer class on the pitch.

Ronaldo has been bang on target with eight strikes in nine outings for his team in all contests so far this campaign, while Messi has notched up 19 goals and made 12 assists in 21 matches for Miami in the 2024 MLS season.

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