Steven Gerrard changes his pick for 'the GOAT'

Steven Gerrard confesses that he refers to Cristiano Ronaldo as 'the GOAT', despite his previous assertions that Lionel Messi is the finest footballer of all time.

Both Ronaldo and Messi have moved on from European club football as they enter the final stages of their illustrious careers. Ronaldo, at 38, wrapped up 2022 by moving to Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr, while 36-year-old Messi transferred to MLS team Inter Miami earlier that year.

Liverpool icon and former Aston Villa manager Gerrard followed Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia in the summer, seizing the opportunity to become the manager of Al Ettifaq.

During a conversation with Saudi Pro League channels, Gerrard praised Ronaldo's impact as one of the factors that motivated his move to the Middle East, referring to him as 'the GOAT'.

Gerrard conversed, 'The GOAT, as we call him, Cristiano, the excitement of his arrival in January was palpable. He still had an abundance of football talent to contribute.'

Gerrard further added, 'From a distance, I kept myself updated about Cristiano Ronaldo's performance for six months, observed the league closely, watched some matches and highlights. The league has been steadily gaining global attention since then. More notable names and talents poured into the league after Cristiano's arrival.'

'At that juncture, I was also exploring my next career move. My agent and I were considering various opportunities in the gulf region. It made the prospect of exploring these opportunities all the more intriguing.'

'The Ettifaq proposals made me gravitate towards them because of the club's passionate board. They understand the club's present situation and realize that turning things around will be a gradual process.'

'It was precisely why I was eager to consider this opportunity. Building a team that stood seventh in the league and lagged significantly from the top four is no mean feat. It takes time and effort to build a team that can compete with the best, and while the on-field performance is the priority, many things require attention off the field to ensure the first-team gets the support they need.'

Despite Gerrard favoring Ronaldo as his GOAT, he has previously maintained that Messi deserves this acclaim.

In a chat with Gary Neville on The Overlap in 2022, when asked who is the greatest player ever, Gerrard stated, 'For me, it's Lionel Messi.'

'I also have immense respect for Ronaldo and would never utter a word against him. They are both phenomenal players of my era. The statistics they've generated during their careers as footballers are unbelievable- I can't see anyone replicating them in the future.'