Coach Arsène Wenger says the football world will only truly understand the extraordinary achievements of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi once both of them “hang up their boots.”
The debate over who is the greatest player in football history continues, with Ronaldo shining in Saudi Arabia while Messi has chosen MLS in the United States.
Both players are expected to feature in the 2026 World Cup, having led their national teams through the qualifiers as their standout stars.
Wenger recently commented again on the Messi–Ronaldo debate, but this time he refused to pick either one. The French manager emphasized that the football world will lose something great when the two players retire. “When they’re no longer with us, then we will understand what they have given us. I will always refuse to create a hierarchy on this.”
“They are two extraordinary players who have shown the world for 15 years just how great football can be,” he said.
Ronaldo appears determined to become the first player to reach 1,000 career goals, while Messi recently became the greatest assist provider in the history of football.
