AI ranked the biggest 'clutch' players in history with Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo not making No 1

AI has ranked the biggest "clutch player" in football history but neither Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo did not make the top spot.

By "clutch", we are of course referring to a player who always turns up in the biggest moments for their team. When backs are up against the wall, they find it within themselves to produce a moment of magic at the very highest level.

Messi and Ronaldo, who continue to have a very present rivalry even though they no longer play in the same continent, epitomise being clutch.

We asked AI platform ChatGPT to help us decide who is the ultimate big game player, though they were keen to stress that things "can be influenced by personal biases, team loyalties and "specific moments that resonate individual fans".

However, they did proceed to list a number of a slew of all-time greats and explain their brilliance - starting with the late Diego Maradona.

1.Diego Maradona: Widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, Maradona had a knack for producing exceptional circumstances in crucial moments. His famous, 'Hand of God' and 'Goal of the Century' in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against England are just a couple of examples.

2. Lionel Messi: Known for his incredible ability to deliver in important matches, Messi has a long list of crucial goals and performances for both Barcelona and the Argentine national team. He has consistently stepped up in key moments throughout his career.

3.Cristiano Ronaldo: Similar to Messi, Ronaldo is renowned for his clutch performances and his ability to score goals in critical situations. He has a remarkable record of scoring in big matches for clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and the Portuguese national team.

Image: Getty

That was the top three but ChatGPT did also come up with a few other notable selections.

Zinedine Zidane: Zidane is famous for his elegance and ability to shine on the biggest stages. His goals in the 1998 World Cup final for France and his iconic volley in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final for Real Madrid are examples of clutch moments.

Andres Iniesta: Iniesta's winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final for Spain and his numerous vital contributions for Barcelona during his career have solidified his reputation as a clutch player.

Sergio Ramos: A central defender known for his leadership and ability to score crucial goals, Ramos has often stepped up when his team needed him the most, particularly for Real Madrid.

Image: Getty

AI was also tasked with finally settling the Messi-Ronaldo debate but was unable to answer the age-old question despite some detailed analysis.

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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