Bruno Guimarães, one of Newcastle United’s key players and a regular with the Brazilian national team, recently weighed in on one of football’s most hotly debated questions: Who is the greatest player of all time?

Speaking to TNT Sports, the 26-year-old midfielder acknowledged having faced Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and shared the pitch with Neymar, but his choice was clear and definitive:
“I’ve played against Messi, Cristiano, Neymar… I’ll go with Messi.”

A career on the rise

Bruno has become a cornerstone for Newcastle, recently playing a key role in helping the club win the 2025 Carabao Cup — their first major trophy in decades. He has also earned 33 caps for Brazil and is on track to be a key figure at the 2026 World Cup.

Why Messi?

Despite sharing several Brazil camps with Neymar and going head-to-head with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at club level, Guimarães believes the Argentine's career stands above the rest. With eight Ballon d’Ors, major titles in Europe, South America, and the 2022 World Cup, Messi continues to be the benchmark for many of today’s top players.

At present, Messi plays for Inter Miami in the MLS, Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia at the age of 40, and Neymar is back at Santos on loan, recovering from injury.