“But Messi won everything…” ‘Ronaldo fan’ Khabib Nurmagomedov struggles to settle GOAT debate
With Lionel Messi running away with the major accolades in recent times, Khabib Nurmagomedov struggled to settle the GOAT debate.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov engages himself in the 'GOAT' debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi (Image via Imago/Instagram)
The UFC and soccer communities have often sparked conversations online about each other. Over the years, there have been numerous instances where top fighters and soccer players have interacted and exchanged views. Recently, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was involved in a discussion about who is the best between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Since he retired from MMA, Khabib Nurmagomedov has actively participated in various interviews across different countries. Recently, during one such interview, an attendee asked the former UFC champion who he considers the greatest of all time (GOAT) in soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. In response, Khabib struggled to choose one over the other as the best player.
You guys know I’m Real Madrid fan, (Cristiano) Ronaldo fan…but we cannot like say Messi is, he win everything.
Khabib Nurmagomedov in a recent interview
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Khabib has engaged in a conversation about the greatest of all time (GOAT). A few years ago, the former UFC champion faced a similar dilemma regarding the GOAT in soccer. He ultimately chose Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the three best soccer players of the current era. As a passionate fan of Real Madrid, Khabib has always admired Ronaldo.
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) December 14, 2024
Even after the Portuguese superstar’s departure from his favorite club, Khabib continues to support him. Although the former UFC champion leans toward Ronaldo in the GOAT debate, he is not willing to dismiss Messi from that top position. Over the years, the Argentinian soccer star has achieved numerous accolades, notably winning eight Ballon d’Or awards (the most in history), while Ronaldo has won five. This could be one of Khabib’s reasons for that.
Daniel Cormier finds similarities in Khabib Nurmagomedov and Lionel Messi
Khabib Nurmagomedov was one of the biggest superstars in the UFC. In addition to his successful UFC career, Khabib also formed several friendships within the promotion. One notable example is his strong camaraderie with former UFC champion Daniel Cormier.
Daniel Cormier frequently shares his thoughts on various intriguing topics on his YouTube channel. A few months ago, he discussed his friend Khabib in one of his videos. In that video, Cormier talked about Khabib’s nature and personality, highlighting how he often avoids public appearances. Interestingly, Cormier even compared this aspect of Khabib’s character to that of soccer star Lionel Messi.
You know what told me a lot about the Khabib situation and how he is shying away from this life as much. In Abu Dhabi, when Islam (Makhachev) fought, he did not even go. Dude, Khabib has gotten to a point now that he is one of those guys like, dude, no bullsh*t, he is like f**king Messi and all those other dudes.
Daniel Cormier on his official YouTube channel (Check from 2:00)
Cormier believes that the ‘Eagle’ is shy like Messi and prefers to avoid the company of others. Interestingly, Khabib’s connection to soccer dates back to his early years, when he considered it his first love. However, the former UFC lightweight champion pursued MMA instead and became one of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history. After retiring from MMA, Khabib transitioned into coaching and now trains fellow fighters from Dagestan.
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Nilaav Gogoi
(477 Articles Published)