Rhino: Agencies – Argentine star Lionel Messi has beaten Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo in a new race.
ESPN chose Messi, former Barcelona star and current Inter Miami, to be the best football player of the current 21st century.
Ronaldo, formerly of Real Madrid and currently of Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, came in second place.
Frenchmen Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane came in third and fourth, respectively.
Real Madrid stars Luka Modric and Kylian Mbappe finished fifth and sixth respectively.
The seventh and eighth places went to former Barcelona stars Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez respectively.
In ninth place, Brazilian Ronaldo Nazario ‘The Phenomenon’ appeared, followed by his compatriot Ronaldinho.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi became the world’s most decorated footballer (45 trophies) after winning the Copa America 2024 title for the second time in a row with Argentina.
Lionel Messi, who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is also the record holder in winning the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world with 8 times.