Manchester United legend Roy Keane named a “brilliant” legendary former player as the best footballer of all time ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Keane played alongside United legend Ronaldo at Old Trafford and watched first-hand how one of his former teammates was dismantled by the ex-Sporting CP star.
Ronaldo shot to superstardom at United under Sir Alex Ferguson, with the 38-year-old Portuguese forward enjoying incredible success at the Premier League club.
He won his first Ballon d’Or at United and lifted three Premier League titles, a Champions League, an FA Cup and two League Cups before his exit to Real Madrid.
Ronaldo’s legendary career on the pitch has often placed him at the centre of the so-called ‘GOAT’ debate alongside Inter Miami superstar Messi.
Both Messi and Ronaldo dominated the Ballon d’Or podium for a decade and their on-pitch rivalry has etched their rightful places in the history books of the sport.
United legend Keane on the ‘GOAT’ player
Keane holds Ronaldo in high admiration and the Sky Sports pundit has previously called the five-time Ballon d’Or winner one of the best players of all time.
However, the 52-year-old Irishman didn’t name former United teammate Ronaldo – nor Barcelona legend Messi – as the outright best player of all time.
Speaking to United legend Gary Neville, Keane opened up about his life on the pitch and off it, including naming his most ‘overrated’ teammate of all time.
When Neville asked Keane who he would consider as the ‘GOAT’ of football, the Irish hardman didn’t hesitate with naming Diego Maradona as his pick.
“Diego Maradona. I thought he was brilliant,” he told The Overlap in 2021.
Keane on his admiration for Maradona
Keane, who once valued one of his ex-United teammates at £2bn, opened up about the time he saw legendary Argentine Maradona in person and how he was in awe.
The United legend watched Maradona in training while he was away on international duty, with Keane calling him “absolutely world class” and a “brilliant player.”
Keane revealed that former Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton was “going mad” as his players watched Maradona rather than getting on the team bus.
Speaking on Sky Sports in 2020, he said: “He was fantastic, what a player.
“I must be older than you, Jimmy [Floyd Hasselbaink], because it was the 1982 World Cup that I fell in love with the game, particularly watching Maradona.
“Also, as a young kid watching Italian football, watching him at Napoli. Absolutely amazing.
“I never got to see him play, but I got to see him training in Seville. We were playing a qualifier with Ireland for the 1994 World Cup. He was at Seville at the time and we used their training facilities.
“We just watched him training one afternoon, the senior players. I remember Jack Charlton was going mad saying, ‘Come on, get on the bus.’ We were like, ‘No, no, we’re watching Maradona.’ He was only training, doing free-kicks!
“A brilliant player, absolutely world class. Even with all his flaws, that was part of the attraction for me as well. An absolute genius, I have great memories watching him.”