‘The arrival of the “GOAT” as we call him, Cristiano, him arriving in January,’ he said. ‘Obviously huge signing, still had a lot of football to offer. From afar, for six months, I was looking in at Cristiano Ronaldo’s results, watching some games, watching some highlights.

‘I think from that moment, the league around the world became a very popular talking point for everyone.’

Steven Gerrard has appeared to change his mind on who the GOAT is after arriving in Saudi

The Al-Ettifaq boss said Ronaldo was the greatest – having previously backed Lionel Messi

Gerrard’s claim that Ronaldo is ‘The GOAT’ comes just a year after he named Messi as the world’s greatest ever player in a chat with Gary Neville.

While appearing on The Overlap, with Sky Bet, Gerrard was asked by Neville to pick his greatest player of all time.

He replied: ‘Lionel Messi for me.’

Gerrard appeared against Ronaldo many times while he was at Liverpool and the Portuguese star was at Man United – and also went up against him in the Champions League when the forward moved to Real Madrid.

The ‘GOAT’ debate between Ronaldo and Messi is one that has raged on for decades, with Ronaldo having a strong case after his incredible goalscoring career that has seen him smash in 737 goals in 993 appearances – plus 146 for his country – and he’s won 32 trophies along the way.

Gerrard Al-Ettifaq have already beaten Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr side 2-1 earlier on this season

However, many would now side with Messi in that equation after the ex-Barcelona star won the fabled World Cup with Argentina last year.

Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq side have played Al-Nassr twice this season – beating them one in the league 2-1 thanks to goals from Robin Quaison and Moussa Dembele – after Sadio Mane had opened the scoring early on, with Ronaldo absent.

Al-Nassr then beat Gerrard’s team in the King Cup of Champions game – with Mane again on the scoresheet after it went to extra time. Ronaldo played the full 120 minutes but couldn’t get on the scoresheet.

Al-Ettifaq are currently seventh in the table under Gerrard after six wins, four draws and three losses – while Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are second in the league and four points behind leaders Al-Hilal, who are unbeaten.