Piers Morgan has reaffirmed his view that Cristiano Ronaldo stands head and shoulders above Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer of all time.
The Good Morning Britain presenter and die-hard Arsenal fan joined Jonny Owen and Friends on talkSPORT this week to discuss all things football.
Piers delved into Ronaldo’s personality during a detailed interview last year
And, naturally, the topic of his best mate came up. Piers, who interviewed Juventus superstar Ronaldo for an ITV documentary last year, openly admits to being a ‘fanboy’.
He spoke at length about his friendship with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner – and his never-ending conversations with Gary Lineker about the age-old ‘Messi or Ronaldo’ debate.
“I went to Turin he [Ronaldo] did say I have great abs,” Piers told talkSPORT. “To say its not something I hear very often is an understatement.
“I dont have a favourite foreign team, but I do have a favourite foreign player. When he was at Real Madrid, it was Real Madrid. Now he is at Juventus, it is Juventus.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still scoring for fun aged 35
“I think he is the best player to have ever played the game. Wet Wednesday in Bolton and you need a goal to save your life I would put money on Cristiano. Weve become quite good friends. We text each other most weeks.
“Hes got this ferocious competitive spirit, the like of which I have rarely encountered. Hes 35, Lionel Messi is just behind him and for 16 years we have had these two guys at the peak of their powers. I am a Ronaldo man, I often have an argument with Gary Lineker. The two of them are the stand-out players ever. Hes a Messi fanboy. I am a Ronaldo fanboy.
“Look, Messi; hes been at one club, hes never done it on the international stage, his record in the Champions League is nowhere near as good as Ronaldos in the closing stages in terms of goals scored Ronaldo has done it on the international stage, the Champions League and brilliant in four different countries Portugal, England, Spain and now Italy.
Messi recently joined Ronaldo in the 700-goal club
“Ronaldo has challenged himself more, succeeding in every league. Messi has never risked it, he has never left Barcelona. There is something to be said for one club players, like Paolo Maldini, I dont want to denigrate Messi, but its Ronaldo for me.”
The only thing Piers loves more than Ronaldo is Arsenal – and as you can imagine, he also had plenty to say about the Gunners.
Piers couldnt refusing having another pop at his old foe Aaron Ramsey, who left Arsenal for Juventus last summer.
Morgan was a vocal critic of Ramsey throughout his career at the Emirates, and insisted he would not be missed when he decided to leave the London club to join Juventus on a free transfer last summer.
Ramsey has struggled to stay fit in Turin
And while the Gunners havent exactly been blessed in the midfield department since his exit, it hasnt gone to plan for the Wales international in Italy, either.
Ramsey as struggled for consistency and form and battled with injury and rotation, making 29 appearances but lasting the entire 90 minutes just once all season.
“Ramsey and I had a few little skirmishes, he added.
No question he was unlucky with his injury, he was certainly a good player and Id be very happy if he came back to Arsenal and did what he did before, which was a very good squad player.
Piers is a die-hard Arsenal fan
But I always felt with Ramsey that the ego was writing cheques his footballing body couldnt cash in. If he was the benchmark for the team we werent going to compete.
Hes a very good footballer, but hes not a top, top footballer. I have watched him at Juventus and apparently they are already looking to sell him on. Hes not had many starts.
Look, if you are Cristiano Ronaldo and youve got Aaron Ramsey coming in, I dont think you are massively impressed.
Thats my overview of Ramsey  good player, not a great player.
It was then suggested he should text good friend Ronaldo to tell him, to which Piers replied: I actually did!