Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has weighed in on the ongoing debate over football’s greatest player, naming Diego Maradona as the ultimate icon, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
While many ex-United stars lean toward Ronaldo in the GOAT conversation, Cole takes a different view, highlighting the Argentine legend as the player who defined an era. Though Cole left United in 1995, two years before Ronaldo arrived at Old Trafford, he has consistently praised the Portuguese forward’s talent and drive. Back in 2021, when Ronaldo returned to United, Cole applauded his enduring hunger and skill, saying, “The goals that he’s got. He’s done almost everything in his career. To still have that hunger and desire – that tells you everything.”
Yet, despite his admiration for Ronaldo, Cole insists the former Real Madrid and Juventus star isn’t football’s greatest of all time. When asked by ESPN to name the best player ever, he responded simply, “Diego Maradona.”
Cole also reserved high praise for Messi, describing him as one of the finest dribblers alongside Maradona. However, his loyalty to Maradona is deeply rooted in the era he grew up watching. Coming of age in the 1970s and 1980s, Cole has often said he feels it would be unfair to judge players like Pelé or George Best, whom he never saw play live. In a 2010 column, he explained, “I don’t doubt their genius, but I grew up watching another, Diego Maradona.”
Beyond the GOAT debate, Cole’s respect for football’s greatest talents is evident in his reflections on players he faced on the pitch. When asked about the best striker he ever competed against, he singled out Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario, calling him the most complete forward he ever encountered. Recalling a match against Inter Milan, Cole admitted to being starstruck at seeing Ronaldo in the San Siro tunnel. “I’m not gonna lie, I nearly wet myself,” he said on The Beautiful Game Podcast. “This is the guy I’ve watched for years… he had everything in the locker.”
Looking back on his own career, Cole expressed pride in his achievements, telling his sons, “I’ve done alright. I’ve half made it!”
