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Argentina superstar Lionel Messi has revealed the greatest sportsmen of his generation, leaving out eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Lionel Messi offered an interesting response when confronted with the claim that he is the greatest footballer of all time. While the general consensus among fans, particularly those in Barcelona and Argentina, places the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner above his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, with the pair sharing a combined 13 Ballon d’Or awards, Messi himself has never claimed the title. Messi answers GOAT question, leaves out Ronaldo When NBC Sports journalist Tom Llamas said to Messi directly, "You are the GOAT," the Inter Miami forward simply smiled without offering a counter argument. Messi was then asked to list other GOATS who inspire him, from football to Basketball to Tennis. "For us Argentinians, Maradona was always the one," Messi stated. "Our greatest legend. The greatest player for what he represented to all of us. I was young and only saw him play live a little, but Diego transcended everything. He was something much bigger than any limits or boundaries in football. Messi also cited NBA legends Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, and LeBron James, alongside tennis stars Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic. Messi's tendency to avoid explicitly naming himself the greatest is notable, as is his reluctance to include Ronaldo in his list of inspirations. This diplomatic silence allows others to make the case for his legendary status, while his focus remains squarely on those who moved the needle in their own sports .Both Messi and Ronaldo are expected to feature for Argentina and Portugal at next summer's World Cup in North America, a tournament Ronaldo has yet to win.
