In a sport where players often choose diplomacy, former footballer Pepe has ignited controversy with bold remarks about the ongoing GOAT debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. During a recent interview, Pepe claimed that Ronaldo’s frequent mentions of Messi are telling—and prove he sits in second place.
“Cristiano does many interviews and often talks about Messi,” Pepe said. “And that’s exactly what shows he is number two.”
To drive home his point, Pepe used an unusual but resonant metaphor from the popular anime Dragon Ball Z: “Ronaldo is like Vegeta—always talking about Goku. Messi is like Goku—he doesn’t speak much, but he’s always on top.”
The analogy quickly went viral on social media, fueling an already heated rivalry that has lasted over a decade. In Pepe’s view, Messi belongs in a class of his own, unreachable by anyone else in the game.
“Messi is the kind of player that no one on Earth can look in the eye,” he said, suggesting that true football fans know Messi’s greatness goes beyond statistics.
“If you really watch football, you’ll see Leo operates on an entirely different level.”
Pepe didn’t stop there. He went so far as to place Ronaldo on the same level as Neymar, while still insisting both lag far behind Messi.
“Messi slaps everyone in the face,” he said. “He’s from another world. There will never be a second Messi.”
When asked if Neymar could rival Messi, Pepe’s answer was emphatic: “No, no. Messi would give Neymar two slaps.”
His blunt assessment has reignited debate among fans and pundits, especially given the sensitive nature of comparing two of football’s greatest modern icons. In a world where players often play it safe, Pepe’s unapologetic stance has added new fuel to the never-ending GOAT discussion.
Sources: Znews
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