Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, and the Chicago Bulls legend once told a football superstar that they share the same status in their respective sport, surpassing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the football world since breaking into the global stage in the mid-2000s. The legends of Argentina and Portugal won 13 Ballon d’Ors – 8 of which belong to Messi – scored 1,804 goals at the same time.
Messi said recently about his competition with Real Madrid and Manchester United legends: “It’s spectacular and a great memory for everyone who loves football.”
Ronaldo is also praised for his long-term competitors: “Amazing players, magic, top-notch.
|
Player |
Ballon d’Ors |
Win for many years |
|---|---|---|
|
Lionel Messi |
8 |
2009, 2010, 2011, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo |
5 |
2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
|
Michelle Pranini |
3 |
1983, 1984, 1985 |
|
Johan Cruyff |
3 |
1971, 1973, 1974 |
|
Marco Van Basten |
3 |
1988, 1989, 1992 |
|
Franz Beckenbauer |
2 |
1972, 1976 |
|
Ronaldo Nazario |
2 |
1997, 2002 |
|
Alfredo di Stefano |
2 |
1957, 1959 |
|
Kevin Keegan |
2 |
1978, 1979 |
|
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge |
2 |
1980, 1981 |
The couple not only dominated the personal honors, but also led the club to an incredible period of superiority. Ronaldo ranked first in the Champions League scoring table with a 141 record, winning five titles during Europe, while Messi fell behind his name with 129 goals and four winner medals.
Success on the Mainland stage is often considered a benchmark for football’s greatness, but NBA superstar Michael Jordan has a different idea, once told an iconic player who never won a European elite game that he is “the MJ of football.”
Jordan, who won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, is a football fan who is often spotted at Paris Saint-Germain due to his brand’s partnership with the club.
But despite Jordan having connections with Messi’s previous team, Jordan had told Ronaldo Nazario that, often referred to as “R9” they had similar identities. The Brazilian striker revealed the compliment after the two met at Nike headquarters in Oregon.
“He said to me ‘You’re Michael Jordan of football’. I thought ‘wow, that’s a big compliment’.”
Messi himself calls Jordan the greatest athlete of all time, so his opinion will certainly bear a certain weight, and the Miami star once revealed that Ronaldo is actually his favorite player: “Ronaldo Nazario is a phenomenon. Of all the forwards I’ve ever met, he’s the best player for me. Impressive players from any aspect.”
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Although Ronaldo has never won the Champions League, he was twice crowned the best player in the world, and his performance at the 2002 World Cup was one of the greatest sporting achievements of all time, returning from a serious knee injury to lead the team to his team to win.
“Without Ronaldo, Brazil was a mess and even lucky to even compete,” wrote South American football writer Tim Vickery. The 25-year-old scored eight times on his way to the famous victory, including two goals in the final.
Although the injury shortened his career, there is no doubt that Ronaldo’s ability to delay the team’s almost-first-hand game puts him on par with Jordan.
