IT’S a question many football fans have pondered over a pint – just who is the greatest ever player?
And Cristiano Ronaldo laid down a massive marker yesterday, netting his 59th hat-trick as Manchester United overcame top six rivals Spurs with a 3-2 win.
The achievement prompted supporters to hail the 37-year-old as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), including his pal, Piers Morgan.
Writing for The Sun, Piers said: “The stats don’t lie: Ronaldo’s now the greatest ever Champions League goal-scorer, the greatest international goal-scorer, and the greatest overall goal-scorer.
“This isn’t because he’s a better natural player than [Lionel] Messi, or indeed other gifted greats like Ronaldinho and George Best, but because he has a superior mental strength and resilience.”
Inspired by the Portuguese forward’s latest goal blitz, Piers, 56, has compiled his list of the ultimate players he’s been fortunate enough to watch during his lifetime.
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How Man Utd lined up the last and only other time Ronaldo scored a hat-trick
But surprisingly for Arsenal fan Piers, only one Gunners star makes the list – and he’s way down at number eight.
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Diego Maradona
- Lionel Messi
- Ronaldinho
- Ronaldo (Brazil)
- George Best
- Pele
- Thierry Henry
- Zinedine Zidane
- Paolo Maldini
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