Expert Ligue 1 predictions and free football tips from Mark Langdon

So who is the official GOAT - Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

Don't worry, I won't go on because we have had quite enough of that dull debate already this week.

Sticking the boot into Monday Night Football does not come easily because it is the best football show on the box and by a considerable distance.

The reason it is so good is it doesn't try to dumb down the sport, so it was disappointing to see them turn it into a pub debate - and a tiresome one at that - on trying to answer a fairly pointless question.

They are both remarkable talents but Messi is 34 and Ronaldo two years older, and the race is on to be next best serial Ballon d'Or winner.

It wouldn't be a major surprise if in a few years Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville are trying to argue the case for Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland. "Yeah, but Mbappe has won the World Cup." Yeah, but Haaland plays for a country where the national sport is cross-country-skiing."

Yeah, but no but who cares...

Haaland is always worth watching because he is such a freak of nature, but the omnipotent Norwegian was overshadowed by someone three years his junior on Wednesday, when Jude Bellingham performed remarkably in Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 win over Besiktas.

This was not a fluke from Bellingham, who should not be this good at just 18 years old but is consistently playing at a level which already suggests he will become a world-class operator.

Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips have done a steady job for Gareth Southgate as a double pivot in the England midfield with Bellingham having to settle for a bit-part role, although he is just too good to consistently leave out for much longer.

Presumably the former Birmingham midfielder will return to the Premier League at some stage and he is going to cost a fortune. He carries the ball well, is excellent out of possession and is odds-on to become a superstar.

For now Bellingham could not be at a better club. Dortmund are renowned for their youth development, identifying players, improving them before selling them on for a tidy profit.

Monaco attempt a similar model in Ligue 1, but it is not working this season and they could be on the wrong end of a derby defeat at Nice.

They have already suffered three losses to nil in their last four league games and Monaco also went out of the Champions League in the qualifying round to a Shakhtar side subsequently turned over by Moldovan minnows Sheriff in midweek.

Nice have not conceded a goal this season and followed an opening draw with Reims by beating Lille, Bordeaux and Nantes by an aggregate 10-0. They should have more points on the board but crowd trouble led to an abandoned game against Marseille when they were 1-0 up.

That means one stand will be closed for the visit of Monaco, but there are reasons for believing Nice should be favourites, including the summer arrival of coach Christophe Galtier, who won the title with Lille last season, but has been tempted south by wealthy owners with plenty of ambition.

Best bet

Nice draw no bet v Monaco noon Sunday
1pt 10-11 general

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