Lionel Messi is now officially the best player ever, according to Jamie Carragher (Picture: Getty)
Jamie Carragher has named who he thinks are the best five footballers of all time – with Lionel Messi top of the list after lifting the 2022 World Cup.
Many feel that Messi’s triumph with Argentina in Qatar has finally settled the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate once and for all.
The 35-year-old adds his World Cup trophy to the Copa America title he won with Argentina last year – while at club level – he was won four Champions Leagues, 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, three Club World Cups, three Super Cups and the Ligue 1 title.
Messi has been awarded the Ballon d’Or a record seven times and is the only player in history to win the Golden Ball twice at the World Cup.
Prior to joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, Messi had spent his entire career at Barcelona, joining the Catalan club as a schoolboy from Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina.
He registered an incredible 672 goals and 303 goals across 778 games for Barcelona after making his debut for the first team in 2004.
Since moving to PSG, Messi has knocked up 23 goals and 29 assists in 52 games for the French side.
He topped Carragher’s list, while fellow Argentine hero Diego Maradona was named as the No.2 player of all time.
Maradona and Messi are the only two players since 1966 to scored 5+ goals and created 20+ chances in a World Cup tournament.
Brazil legend Pele – who won three World Cups in 1958, 1962 and 1970 – was picked as No.3 by Liverpool legend Carragher.
Carragher then named ‘Ronaldo’ at No.4 – but it is likely the pundit was referring to Portugal hero Cristiano Ronaldo, rather than the former Brazil striker.
The final name on Carragher’s list was France legend Zinedine Zidane, who ranked at No.5.
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