Even those in the highest circles of power and influence are not exempt from soccer’s biggest debate—who is the greatest of all time? Prince William, an avid soccer fan and President of the English Football Association (FA), recently waded into the never-ending discussion surrounding two of the sport’s biggest icons.
During a visit to Aston Villa’s training ground, Bodymoor Heath, the Prince of Wales took part in a rapid-fire Q&A session where he was asked to make some tough choices between legendary players. One particular question, however, stood out—Messi or Ronaldo?
Prince William has long been a dedicated supporter of Villa, frequently attending their matches and even bringing his son, Prince George, along to experience the sport he loves. Recently, the royal was in attendance as the Birmingham side secured a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a win over Club Brugge.
Ahead of the game, the 42-year-old took time to visit the club’s training complex, where he was challenged to pick between soccer’s greatest legends in a quickfire session with The Sun. Some choices were difficult, others came quickly—his pick for a penalty taker between Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham? “This is going to hurt. Becks, I think, just.” But when asked to pick between Brazilian Ronaldo [Nazario] and Beckham, the Prince sided with the legendary striker without hesitation.
However, the ultimate test came when he had to make a decision between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo—a moment that had soccer fans eagerly awaiting his response.
Prince William’s GOAT pick
After a moment of hesitation, the Prince of Wales finally made his choice. “Gotta be Messi, just,” he admitted. His decision, though only slightly in favor of the Argentine superstar, adds yet another voice to the debate that has raged for over a decade.
Messi’s extraordinary dribbling ability, vision, and playmaking skills have often set him apart from his rivals. His crowning moment came when he led Argentina to 2022 World Cup glory, further cementing his place among the all-time greats.
Despite his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, it seems Messi’s ability to define matches with moments of pure magic was enough to sway Prince William’s decision.
Royal hamstring injury trying to copy Ronaldo
While he may have picked Messi as his GOAT, Prince William still holds the Portuguese in high regard—particularly when it comes to goal celebrations. In a lighthearted moment, the royal revealed that he once injured himself while trying to mimic Ronaldo’s famous ‘Siuuu’ celebration in his garden.
“Well, obviously!” he laughed when asked if he had attempted the move. “And then I do a hammy.” The admission drew laughter from those present, including Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings, who had playfully asked if William had ever tried to replicate Ronaldo’s celebration.
