Real Madrid legend Gareth Bale gave his take on the GOAT debate in response to a question about the greatest player to win the Champions League.
Bale himself has won the title five times with Real, playing a key role in the 2018 final against Liverpool.
The Welshman has scored twice from the bench, including an unlikely kick from his bicycle, which has become part of the club's folklore.
He also received the winner's medal last season when Los Blancos again beat Liverpool in the final but Bale did not feature in the game despite being in the squad.
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This year, he will watch the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan from a different perspective, having retired from professional football in January following the 2022 World Cup. Despite receiving offers to join League Two side Wrexham, the 34-year-old has opted to retire after leaving the LAFC MLS franchise.
And ahead of tonight's clash between City and Inter in Istanbul, Bale answered a series of questions from PlayStation - including who believes he is the greatest player to win the Champions League.
Bale named GOAT Champions League
The former striker has won four of the five Champions League titles alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese legend also having five after winning the 2008 final against Manchester United.
Despite media speculation, the Welshman said in 2019 that he has never had a problem with Ronaldo and enjoys playing with him at the Bernabeu.
Bale has formed a strong trio at Real with Ronaldo and Karim Benzema - the latter of whom will leave the Spanish giants this summer to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad. Advertisement
However, when asked by PlayStation to name the best player to win the Champions League, Bale did not choose any of his former teammates. Instead, he chose Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, a four-time winner of the tournament.
However, he took a few seconds to think about his answer, which meant there must be a few followers. But his answer makes it clear who he thinks is the biggest winner of the famous trophy.
Messi's bid to win the Champions League for a fifth time has now been put on hold after it was announced he would join MLS' Inter Miami this summer. Advertisement
The Argentine is following the same path as Bale when he left Europe for the US - but it is unclear if Messi will end his career in the MLS.
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