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6 Days After Cristiano Ronaldo Ended Lionel Messi Rivalry, Jimmy Butler Reignites GOAT Debate, Bringing In Close Friend Neymar Jr.

Published 10/04/2023, 11:05 PM EDT

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s rivalry has been one of the Greatest rivalries in Sports history. There have been very few occasions in history where two players of Ronaldo and Messi’s caliber have been on top of their game for over 15 years and competed for the position of the best player. Usually, when one generational talent enters his professional career, his predecessor has already cemented his legacy. Watching Ronaldo and Messi compete for the GOAT title for over 15 years has been a treat for soccer fans around the world. But Ronaldo made a statement that put an end to his rivalry with the Argentinian legend.

6 Days after CR7’s statement, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler reignited the GOAT debate by bringing in his close friend Neymar Jr. in the conversation.

Jimmy Butler knows who his GOAT is

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Jimmy Butler has been going through a roller coaster of emotions since he missed out on the opportunity of teaming up with 7-time All-Star Damian Lillard. Jimmy showed up to NBA Media Day in his new “Emo” look, shocking the NBA world. Now that he has had some time to recover from the Damian Lillard trade, Butler was seen enjoying a day out at Bedner’s Farm in Florida. During his visit, Butler shared a video of several goats on his Instagram story, tagging Brazilian Soccer player Neymar Jr. That means long-time friend Neymar Jr. is Jimmy Butler’s “GOAT”.

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The Miami Heat star’s GOAT claim comes just 6 days after Cristiano Ronaldo ended his 15-year-long rivalry with World Cup winner Lionel Messi. The Portuguese player recently said this about his rivalry with Messi, “The rivalry between us is over. We shared the stage for 15 years. I’m not saying we’re friends, but we respect each other.” Ronaldo and Messi are no longer in their prime. CR7 is 38 years old, and his nemesis Messi is 36, and they are both at the tail end of their careers.

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Is Neymar Jr. really the “GOAT”?

Even though Jimmy Butler backed his friend Neymar Jr. by calling him the GOAT, the soccer world might not agree with the 6-time All-Star. Neymar has never won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, while Cristiano Ronaldo has 5 in his trophy cabinet, and Messi leads the competition with 7 Ballon d’Or wins. Apart from that, Messi recently won the World Cup for his nation, making his GOAT claim even stronger.

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The Brazilian star still has a long way to go before he can be called the GOAT of soccer. His predecessors, Ronaldo and Messi, have left such an impact on the soccer world that it will be nearly impossible to surpass that benchmark. Neymar is still 31 years old and has many years left in his career. He can make his GOAT claim stronger by winning the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Watch This Story: Watch: Super Excited James Harden as His $425 Million Team Beats Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami 2-1 in Argentinian’s Absence

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Written by:

Rohan Bhaunt

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Rohan is an NBA Content Writer at EssentiallySports. He is a state-level basketball player and has been a fan of the NBA for over a decade. This allows him to deep dive into the sport and provide a fresh outlook.
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Edited by:

Sameen Nawathe