Lionel Messi is considered the greatest footballer ever, while Michael Jordan is regarded as the best basketball player of all time.

These two dominated their respective sports for years and brought unprecedented success to their teams.

Messi did it with Barcelona and Argentina, while Jordan took the NBA to incredible heights in the 1990s with the Chicago Bulls.

The Argentine icon led his country to World Cup glory in 2022 after two decades at Barcelona, where he scored hundreds of goals, won many titles and broke all records imaginable.

The 37-year-old has eight Ballon d'Or awards, and he's always been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo in the GOAT debate.

Conversely, Jordan won six NBA titles (two three-peats) with the Bulls in the 1990s. He made basketball famous all over the world and changed sneaker culture with his Air Jordan brand.

Some feel LeBron James has done enough to be the NBA GOAT and that debate still
persists.

Who is the bigger GOAT? Messi or Jordan?

Speaking to Argentine journalist Juan Pablo Varsky, Messi was asked if Jordan is a bigger GIOAT than him.

"It seems to me, in terms of sports, he’s the greatest there is." But after having seen his series and getting to know a bit more about him, you know, 'The Last Dance', it just blows your mind, it’s a masterpiece, it’s impressive," Messi said via Sportbible.

The Inter Miami star said the Last Dance made him understand Jordan more. "Well, that also brought me closer to him and helped me understand a bit more about who he was. It’s a pity that I couldn’t live through that era in person, because I would’ve loved it." A few months ago, Messi said Jordan was the only other athlete he would love to take a photo with.