Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have certainly enjoyed an eventful week.

Juventus miraculously survived in the Champions League despite losing the first leg 2-0 to Atletico Madrid and it was all thanks to their star man, who provided a brilliant hat-trick.

Reports in Spain claimed that Ronaldo had informed family and friends that he would score a treble in Turin, a promise he fulfilled with two headers and a pressure penalty.

Naturally, such a remarkable performance saw many football fans brand him the GOAT (greatest-of-all-time) but it wasn't long before Lionel Messi staked his claim in the argument.

Messi scored two goals and provided as many assists as Barcelona blew away Lyon 5-1, booking their place in the quarter-finals.

Messi and Ronaldo shine this week

Juventus will now move on to the challenge of Ajax - who recently conquered Ronaldo's former team Real Madrid - and Barcelona will lock horns with Manchester United in a mouth-watering clash.

Even more exciting, though, is the potential for a Messi vs Ronaldo final, something which hasn't happened since 2009 when the Barcelona man came out victorious.

However, regardless of how the remaining games play out, their individual displays have added new spice to the GOAT debate and Jamie Carragher has made his opinion very clear.

Carragher: Messi is the GOAT

During an article on the Champions League this season, the Liverpool legend explained that a Messi vs Ronaldo final is a real possibility and branded the former as the greatest player in history.

"In reality, the competition is heading towards a showdown between emerging forces and familiar faces," Carragher wrote in his weekly Telegraph column.

"Ronaldo and Messi – the greatest goalscorer of all time and the greater player of all time – show no sign of giving up their dominance of European competition, their individual displays in midweek further demonstrating their exceptional skill and motivation levels.

"They bring belief to their clubs and fear to opposition. The fact remains unless the English clubs can find a way to stop Ronaldo and Messi, this year’s final will be Juventus versus Barcelona."

Big praise for Ronaldo, but Carragher believes Messi is the real GOAT.

Nevertheless, despite believing both players could go all the way to Madrid, Carragher reckons that the Premier League sides will dominate if they can neutralise Messi and Ronaldo.

He went on to explain: "I believe the English can and will overcome Ronaldo and Messi this season.

"I believe two English clubs will make it to Madrid and the Premier League will continue to have at least two participants in the semi-finals for the next five years.

"Should Liverpool get past Porto, Barcelona would need to overcome two English clubs to reach the final if they defeat United. That is a tough ask for the Spanish champions.

"City should be too strong for Tottenham, Ajax and Juventus. Guardiola may not like references to the quadruple. They will not be going away."

Who do you think is the better player - Messi or Ronaldo? Have your say in the comments section below.