Mark Selby picks Ronnie O’Sullivan and Lionel Messi as his snooker and football GOATs after 2022 World Cup

Mark Selby has made his GOAT picks for snooker and football: Ronnie O’Sullivan and Lionel Messi.

The win has seen many claim that Messi’s place as the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) is now cemented.

Selby gave his verdict on the GOAT debate after his English Open win.

“I have always been a Messi fan over [Cristiano] Ronaldo. I know Ronaldo is also brilliant and has done it in several different leagues, while Messi was mainly at Barcelona.

“But if I was paying to watch one of them, I’d pick Messi over Ronaldo. I think it’s fair if he is now seen as the GOAT, and the greatest of all time. That is my personal choice.

“And I suppose for anyone else to be even in the conversation as the GOAT in snooker you’d have to break all of Ronnie’s records.

“So that means seven or eight world titles at least, the debate until now has been between Ronnie and Stephen Hendry, though most would now say O’Sullivan.

“It is Ronnie for me. And look, even if I won 10 world titles I am not one for saying ‘It’s me’. That’s for others. But while I am still playing, I’ll be trying to win eight.”

Selby beat Luca Brecel 9-6 to claim victory at the English Open in Essex.

“It was brilliant with the timings to also get to see the World Cup final before the evening session,” he added.

“I went back to the hotel to get some food and it was on there.

“I think I watched it from about 75 minutes onwards. And I was cheering on Argentina because Messi is an absolute legend – the greatest player I have ever seen in my lifetime.

“Knowing that was his last World Cup, it would have been an absolute tragedy for the player he has been if he was never to have won it.

“So I saw him get the third, then France level at 3-3, and then the shoot-out. That is like a deciding frame in snooker – the toss of a coin.”

Just as Argentina’s World Cup win seems to have swayed the football GOAT debate in Messi’s favour, a record-equalling seventh World Championship win earlier this year saw O’Sullivan edge ahead of Stephen Hendry for many in snooker’s GOAT debate.

As well as now being level with Hendry on seven world titles, O’Sullivan has also won the most ranking titles, the most Triple Crown events, made the most maximum 147’s and scored the most centuries.

Selby is a four-time world champion and might be a contender at the Crucible next year after returning to the winner’s circle at the English Open.

“From where I have come from and where I have been, it is incredible really to be back winning and enjoying my snooker and my life,” he said.

“Winning was all about what it stood for and represented, rather than the trophy itself. And to have [wife] Vikki and our daughter Sofia there was extra special. Vikki has been to the well and back with me.

“It may well have been harder for her than me, at least I was getting help and speaking to the right people. She didn’t always know what to say from day to day.

“But people didn’t always think about her and she was suffering as much as I was. It was hard for me to do that because I couldn’t even support myself.

“So she has been an incredible rock and I honestly don’t think I’d be here without her. She told me years before I did that I should seek help. But I thought I could do it on my own.”