Mention Cristiano Ronaldo and, invariably, within 10 seconds, someone will evoke Lionel Messi.
The pair shared a rivalry probably greater ever seen in a team sport before.
For more than two decades, and fueled by social media growth, the debate raged from Sydney to Nova Scotia. Who is the best? Ronaldo or Messi?
Their careers are inextricably linked, sharing stories attached to elite clubs and elite competitions since they broke out on the stage of the start in the mid -2000s. Millions of words written to push one case or another .
🔥 Máximos Goleadores of the historia del fútbol
🇵🇹 Cristiano 9⃣2⃣3⃣ (1261 Partidos)
🇦🇷 Messi 8⃣5⃣0⃣ (1083 Partidos) pic.twitter.com/xm6hcj6ryw– Mundo Deportivo (@mundeportivo) February 4, 2025
Ronaldo is still talking about
Ronaldo made the conversation more than Messi. On Monday, he appeared on Spanish television to declare himself the “most complete player who ever existed”.
He added: “I do everything in football. I play well with my head, I take good free kicks, I have a left foot, a right foot, I am strong …
“People might like [Lionel] Messi, [Diego] Maradona or Pelé, and I respect it, but I am the most complete. “”
His desire to speak may have just known that, if a global survey should be held, he would probably come second in popularity to his Argentinian rival.
This is an assertion that cannot be proven but, above all, should not harm a really remarkable career. Judging a big one of all time should not always have to be through the context of another.
The two men always become strong
Ronaldo and Messi are now at the twilight of their career, seeing their days of play in the States of Saudi Arabia and Florida, where the sun is still shining and the bank accounts accumulate additional noughts on a daily basis.
This does not mean that they relaxed, however.
Having captain of Argentina at Copa America Glory last year, Messi returned to Inter Miami to direct his franchise at the supporters shield.
Ronaldo last night scored a splint, including a brand head that challenged gravity, while Al Nassr beat Al Wasl 4-0 in the Asian Champions League. He is also the top scorer in the professional league this season with 15 goals in 17 games and has scored 923 times in his career.
Men cannot fly.
Him: pic.twitter.com/racggplnh6
– Alnassr FC (@alnassrfc_en) February 3, 2025
There is no sign of slowing down when he pursues this 1000th elusive goal.
“I am so competitive that sometimes I forget what I did,” he said, “because it gives me motivation to do more and do better every year … I think it’s the difference with the others. Someone else has left football 10 years ago. I am different, complete complex.
It may be unlikely that it never admits it, but Ronaldo and Messi are remarkably similar in Outlook, if not always.
The Portuguese is openly expressive, demanding and sometimes petulant.
Each player who shared a cloakroom with Messi in Barcelona to his peak would recognize all these attributes in South America.
So what now?
Well, Messi will be 38 years old this year, but has already declared his desire to direct his country as they try to defend their crown of the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Ronaldo also hopes to be there with Portugal. At that time, he may have achieved his declared goal of 1,000 career strikes.
We can only dream, but a final of Argentina against Portugal – which is not entirely incredible – would be the perfect sending if it decided to derive at sunset.
Who was the best? Who cares about it. We may have two years of this endearing chapter in the history of football. Take advantage of it, cherish them, we will miss them when they left.
