Overview
- In a December 9 interview with Just Riadh, former Arsenal and current Villarreal forward Nicolas Pepe declared Lionel Messi the clear choice in the GOAT debate.
- Pepe likened Messi to Goku and Cristiano Ronaldo to Vegeta, arguing Ronaldo’s frequent comments about Messi show he sits second in the pecking order.
- He called Messi an “otherworldly being” who “slaps everyone” and said no player can look the Argentine in the eye in pure footballing terms.
- Pepe contended Neymar at his peak can rival Ronaldo but not Messi, and he mocked Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian goal chase by alleging an overreliance on penalties.
- Coverage recapped current context, noting Messi’s Inter Miami deal runs through 2028 and reporting that Ronaldo is working on a new two‑year Al‑Nassr contract, with both stars widely expected to feature at the 2026 World Cup.