“Ronaldo has the same frustration” - Ex-Arsenal star picks side in Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo debate by choosing one as Vegeta and other as Goku

Former Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe has compared Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to Dragon Ball Z characters, Vegeta and Goku. He sided with the Argentine, saying that the Inter Miami captain will always be ahead of the Portuguese counterpart.

Speaking to Just Riadh, Pepe said that Ronaldo gives many interviews and keeps talking about Messi, comparing it to Vegeta talking about Goku. He believes that the Al-Nassr superstar is frustrated to see the Argentine doing better than him in their careers and said:

“Cristiano Ronaldo does a lot of interviews, and he talks a lot about Messi, and that's how you see that he (Ronaldo) is number two. You know Dragon Ball Z? Vegeta always talked like that (about Goku), and who never talked: Goku. Ronaldo has the same frustration that Messi is always ahead of him."

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been hailed as the GOATs of football. The duo have dominated world football for nearly two decades, winning 13 Ballon d'Ors between them, with the Argentine taking the trophy home eight times.

Pepe believes that they are the best, but puts his weight behind the Barcelona legend in the GOAT debate.

Wayne Rooney said Lionel Messi was better than Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was in the spotlight earlier this year, after picking Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo. He said that he does not dislike his former teammate, but believed that the Argentine was better, and said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast (via ESPN):

"People think I hate him [Ronaldo]. I love him. I think he's an absolute genius and what he's doing is incredible. I love Cristiano and playing with him. I don't think people realise actually how close me and him were. I think just because I've said that I think Messi is better than Ronaldo, people think I don't like Cristiano."

"I absolutely love Messi, love watching him play and that was the only reason because I think Messi had a little bit more in terms of how he played and taking players on and whatever. Ronaldo's a killer and people think because I've said Messi is better than Ronaldo, I don't like him or speak down on him."

Cristiano Ronaldo hit back at Wayne Rooney earlier in his career, saying the Manchester United legend was jealous as the Englishman continued to play while the former Everton striker retired.