Joao Felix has weighed in on the enduring debate over who holds the title of the greatest of all time between football icons; Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi, which began in the late 2000s, has seen the duo clinch a staggering combined total of 13 Ballon d’Or trophies, fueling comparisons that have captivated football fans worldwide.
Joao Felix on GOAT debate involving Ronaldo and Messi
Felix, when asked to take sides in the Messi-Ronaldo debate during a conversation with Bojan Krkic on Twitch, declined to choose, asserting that the two legends have been impeccable and should not be pitted against each other.
Instead, he emphasized the importance of relishing their unique talents on the pitch, saying: “Messi and Cristiano should not be compared. You should enjoy them.”
The Portuguese added: “Choosing one of them is very difficult. They both did very good things that will not be repeated.”
Joao Felix at Barcelona
Felix has been making his mark on the pitch, showcasing his prowess in linking attacking plays with his teammates at Barcelona.
In his current stint with the Blaugrana side, Joao Felix has already made a significant impact, netting 9 goals in 27 matches across all competitions this season.
Every chance that he gets, Felix makes it clear that he wants to remain at Barcelona beyond the ongoing season.
Having joined the Catalans from Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan deal in the summer of 2023, the former Chelsea man has come good at his temporary home.
During an interview earlier this week, the attacker once again reiterated his desire to stay at Barcelona, saying:
“We’ll see what happens next year, my family is happy and I’m happy. I would like to stay but it doesn’t depend on me.”
For some time now, it has been quite evident that Barcelona and Joao Felix intend to extend their loan agreement past this current campaign.
There is also no turning back for the forward at the Spanish capital club Atletico, where Diego Simeone remains in charge.
Joao Felix is a magnificent player – Atletico Madrid president, Cerezo
Atletico Madrid president, Enrique Cerezo shared that the attacker wants to remain at Barcelona.
He said: “He is playing for Barcelona and it is normal that he wants to stay there. Barcelona wants him and he wants to stay there, so everyone is happy.
“Apart from that, they will be lucky because Barcelona are keeping a magnificent and great player. Joao is a magnificent player.”
Thus, the wisest course of action for all sides would be to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
Atletico wants to trade Joao permanently, but Barcelona wants to keep him on loan once more, possibly with a buyout option.
It remains to be seen which way the wind sways, although recent reports suggest that Atleti might give in and accept another loan deal.
Why Felix appears to be sitting on the fence with regards to the GOAT debate?
Meanwhile, João Felix has played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at the Portuguese national team since 2019, and he has a lovely relationship with the Al Nassr forward.
He currently plays for Barcelona, a club where Lionel Messi is revered for his contributions to the institution.
Definitely, it is understandable to see why he might have opted to sit on the fence, given the kind of reactions selecting any possible choice could elicit.
