Fred reveals why Ronaldo beats Messi in GOAT debate

The Brazilian has changed his GOAT verdict after seeing what Cristiano Ronaldo can do first-hand.

Manchester United midfielder Fred has admitted playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo has convinced him that his teammate is better than Lionel Messi.

The age-old debate about who is better between Ronaldo and Messi continues. The pair have dominated headlines for over a decade, each delivering pulsating performances on the biggest stage.

Many of football’s biggest names have spoken, yet no definitive answer is yet to be found.

Ronaldo vs Messi – Champions League stats

‘I choose CR7 now over Messi’

Now Fred has revealed that while he once would have picked Messi as the GOAT, playing alongside Ronaldo has changed his perspective on the debate.

“I used to say Messi, it’s a style that I enjoy more,” he told TNT Sports Brasil.

“But after playing with Cristiano, I can see closely the amount of work that he puts into every aspect of his football life.

“On the pitch, he’s always in the right place at the right time. He’s the player with the highest ability to turn a game around I’ve ever seen. I choose him now [over Messi].

“He’s an exceptional guy, on and off the pitch. Every day he’s working to get even better, and that’s important as an inspiration to all of us, especially the young players. He’s a role model.”

Big game up tonight

Ronaldo and Fred to action on Wednesday to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Manchester United need Ronaldo firing on all cylinders in Spain for the first leg of the last-16 tie. The bookies expect a close affair in this one. There is not much between the sides in terms of odds, with a draw looking like a tempting bet at the moment.