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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

Sir Alex Ferguson has already settled the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi debate

Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

It's the question that has divided supporters worldwide for 15 years or more and, while there might never be a definitive answer, there ought to be only one winner in these parts.

Ronaldo first touched down at Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in 2003.

The rest, as they say, is history as the five-time Ballon d'Or winner scored 118 goals during 292 games in that initial spell, while he also won three Premier League titles and added a Champions League winners' medal in 2008.

Sir Alex Ferguson signed and nurtured the Portuguese sensation during his 27-year reign at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo went on to scale even greater heights at Spanish giants Real Madrid, while there was naturally plenty of anticipation and excitement around when he completed his grand return to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window. He's already scored 13 goals this season to prove there is plenty left in the tank.

As for Messi, meanwhile, his own summer transfer to PSG was followed up by a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or win - although there was some controversy over that decision.

The whole Ronaldo vs Messi debate continued as a result, but did Sir Alex sum it up perfectly when he was asked by former snooker world champion John Parrott to pick between the pair in 2015?

Speaking at the time, Ferguson said: "People say 'who is the best player in the world?'

Who is the greatest player of all-time? Have your say in the comments section below.

"Plenty of people quite rightly say Messi - and you can't dispute that opinion - but Ronaldo could play for Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers... anyone, and score a hat-trick in a game. I'm not sure Messi could do it.

"Ronaldo's got two feet, he's quick, great in the air, he's brave - Messi's brave, of course. I think Messi's a Barcelona player."

We've teamed up with LiveScore to invite fans to vote for their favourite results - the games which were much more than a score. Vote for the match that mattered to you here .

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