Jay Jay Okocha chooses between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Legendary Nigeria midfielder Austin Jay Jay Okocha has seemingly added his voice to the debate on who between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time.

Ronaldo and Messi have reigned supreme in the sport for years, causing fans, pundits, and even fellow players to remain divided on which of the two is superior.

According to Sportbible, the two football legends are widely regarded as the football GOATs, thanks to what they have achieved over the years in their respective careers.

To emphasise the duo's unparalleled dominance, they have collectively earned an astounding 12 Ballon d'Or awards, with Messi claiming the prestigious honour a record seven times.

Even though Messi seemed to have solidified his status as the GOAT ahead of Ronaldo following his victory in the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, there is still a split opinion regarding the superior player.

Okocha on the GOAT debate

Nigerian football icon and former Bolton Wanderers playmaker Jay Jay Okocha gave his opinion on the debate.

Okocha holds a unique perspective on what distinguishes between Ronaldo and Messi.

While he acknowledges the extraordinary accomplishments of both, the former playmaker has a definite favourite in his view.

Okocha said via Sportskeeda :

“I think both of them rightly deserve to be GOATs (greatest of all time), but I prefer Messi. As for me… I mean… Cristiano Ronaldo is typical of what you can achieve with hard work, but for Messi, everything comes naturally… and he works hard as well.”

Both Messi and his long-standing rival have concluded their European careers.

The Argentine playmaker is currently plying his trade in the MLS with Inter Miami, while Ronaldo is making waves in the Saudi Pro League.