Jamie Vardy is a man who knows all about success from his time at Leicester City.
Although his time at the Foxes got off to a tricky start, with Vardy almost quitting to become a holiday rep, the striker is firmly in the conversation of best Leicester players of all time.
He’s won two Championship titles, the Premier League, an FA Cup and Community Shield in his time at the King Power Stadium.
Thanks to Vardy’s pre-match Red Bull every game, he’s still going strong to this day and causing defenders problems in the Premier League.
His best season will always be the 15/16 campaign, where his goals fired the Foxes to the title. Alongside Riyad Mahrez, his role earned himself a Ballon d’Or nomination.
He may not have won but after all, he was up against Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The duo are two of the greatest players of all time, but Vardy finally settled the debate four years on in 2020.
Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Jamie Vardy revealed who is better out of Messi and Ronaldo
Vardy has had the luxury of playing against Messi and Ronaldo – albeit at different stages of their careers.
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Ronaldo faced the Foxes in his second stint at Manchester United whereas Vardy and Messi played against each other during a pre-season friendly in Sweden back in 2016.
The debate of who is the GOAT has dominated, and continues to dominate, football ever since they began playing.
But, Vardy settled it once and for all with his verdict in November 2020.
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
He told Sky Sports, via Sportskeeda: “I think you automatically” put Leo Messi up there. We played against him in a friendly after we won the league and just being on the pitch and seeing what he does is immense.
“If he the greatest player of all time? For me, yes. Obviously, there are lots of debate around that so I just leave my answer and let others debate.”
Jamie Vardy and Lionel Messi share unique record
For Leicester fans, Vardy is the best player in the club’s history, but even they can admit that Messi is the better player.
There aren’t too many similarities between the two, but one thing that does put them level is a unique record they hold.
Vardy and Messi are two of only six players to score a hat trick against a side managed by Pep Guardiola.
Sergio Aguero, Christopher Nkunku, Viktor Gyokeres and Kylian Mbappe have also scored a trio of goals against a Guardiola-managed side.
Player Years
Sergio Aguero 2014
Jamie Vardy 2016 & 2020
Lionel Messi 2016
Christopher Nkunku 2021
Viktor Gyokeres 2024
Kylian Mbappe 2025
Where Vardy triumphs, however, is the fact that he scored more than one hat-trick against the Manchester City and Barcelona legend.
He may not have a Ballon d’Or or Champions League trophy in his collection, but he’ll always have that.