The earliest I could remember was around 2011-2012, and ever since then it’s been rampant
Messi was getting called the GOAT since like 2010, 2011.
Ronaldo was a bit later but in 2013/2014 he was also getting these shouts.
I was a little kid, but remember Messi being referred to as the new Maradona in the 2010 world cup.
My fellow mid 20s?
As soon as 10yos started getting interested in football
I was hearing it around 2010-2011 but me personally it wasn’t until 2015 till I started believing it (I was stubborn to change my mind about pele and Maradona being the Goats)
When they were casually getting around 60+ goals each year
04.04.2017
I think they both were about 12 years old
It was 2010 people were saying that Messi is the best they have ever seen.
When somebody at adidas and Nike had a brilliant idea. And churn up the “debate”
GOAT wasn’t a common term in football in the late 00s, but they were both considered as potentials to join the top 5 best since then.
Lol maybe the acronym wasn’t used, but the concept of ‘best player of all time’ was around well before the ‘10s
Nah, back then they were referred to as “Gods”! I know, it’s crazy that someone can think more than one player is worth worshiping. Makes me disgusting just thinking about football history……
Messi 2011
Ronaldo probably later like 2013
I remember conversations similar to that on YouTube when I barely found out about Messi and Ronaldo in 2012-14. Don’t know any specifics though
Ronaldo first had these shouts from 1 or 2 pundits in 2008 that he could go on to become the best.
Messi in 2009
Then as soon as Ronaldo moved to Madrid the rivalry really ramped up.
And throughout their time in Spain were constantly called “The Two Greatest Players Of All Time playing at the same time”
2006/2007 everyone knew Messi would be one of the best ever and people had already started debating if he could be as good as Maradona!
Nobody knew back then. There were lots of young players with enormous potential who wasted their careers or underperformed. In 2006 Messi was only one of those. A potential to be fulfilled. And no one expected that it will happen so well (with so few injuries).
Yeah no way. I was into football back then and Messi was just some guy that would assist Ronaldinho or eto when I played fifa lol.
I knew who he was but he was ranked an 86 or something like that in fifa.
The mid 2010s in my opinion, once they had established their longevity and were consistently getting 60+ goals.