Ronaldo vs Messi: Premier League legend settles GOAT debate

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has revealed who his greatest footballer of all time (GOAT) is.

Shearer's illustrious career saw him score a record-breaking 260 Premier League goals across 14 seasons with Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. 

His 112 goals in 138 appearances for Blackburn played a crucial role in their 1994-95 Premier League title, the only league championship of his career. 

He then moved to Newcastle in 1996, adding 148 goals in 303 appearances over a decade. Shearer holds the unique distinction of being the only Premier League player to have scored over 100 goals for two different clubs.   

Premier League's all-time leading goalscorer, Alan Shearer has named Lionel Messi as his greatest footballer of all time (GOAT).

Shearer shared his views on the global game as a pundit, most notably his unwavering belief in Messi's status as the greatest.   

Shearer first publicly expressed his admiration for Messi in 2018 on X (formerly Twitter). 

He said, "We should consider ourselves very lucky to live in a time where we can watch the greatest player of all time!" 

He has continued to praise Messi's exceptional talent throughout his career at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and beyond.

Shearer considers Messi's career extraordinary, citing his numerous records and unforgettable World Cup performance as evidence of his lasting impact on the sport.