The five-time Ballon d’Or recipient has had a career that mirrors Messi’s, both dominating the pinnacle of global football for over fifteen years and revolutionizing the sport through their remarkable achievements. ..Continue reading
The ongoing debate over who holds the title of greatest continues, even though neither plays in Europe anymore. Ronaldo, now 40, continues to regularly find the net for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while Messi, at 38, dazzles fans with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
For many, the debate was settled in 2022 when Messi finally lifted the World Cup trophy, scoring two goals as Argentina triumphed over France in a thrilling penalty shoot-out after a 3-3 stalemate.
Ronaldo has enjoyed success internationally, securing the 2016 European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles, the most recent last summer.
However, he has yet to claim the World Cup and after Portugal’s quarter-final exit to Morocco, Ronaldo was visibly emotional as he left the field.
In a heartfelt Instagram post afterwards, Ronaldo said that “winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career”.
But during a new conversation on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Ronaldo changed his stance and suggested his legacy is not dependent on capturing football’s most coveted honor.
In a preview for the second part of the interview ahead of Thursday’s broadcast, Ronaldo commented: “If you ask me, Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup? No, it is not a dream. To determine whether I am one of the best in history, to win one match, [of] six games, seven games. Do you think it’s fair?”
Messi, on the other hand, sees things differently, calling the experience of becoming world champion “the ultimate achievement” and likening it to “finishing my entire career” after enduring previous disappointments on the big stage.
Speaking at the America Business Forum in Florida, Messi said: “The truth is that it is difficult to explain the feelings of that moment. It is difficult to put into words what that title meant, on a personal level, on a family level, for my teammates and for the country. It was clear how the country celebrated, the need and the desire we had for it to happen again after so much time had passed.”
He continued: “For me it was special. First of all, because winning the World Cup is the ultimate achievement for a player. It’s like anyone in their job, any professional who reaches the top. After the World Cup there is nothing more. You can’t ask for more. And besides, I was lucky to have achieved everything before. At club level, at individual level.”
“We had also won the Copa America with the national team. That was the missing piece. It was as if I ended my entire career with that trophy.”
Earlier in the interview, Ronaldo stressed that while he has deep admiration for Messi, he firmly believes he stands alone as the greatest, claiming: “Is Messi better than me? I don’t agree with that opinion. I don’t want to be humble.”
Both legends can still grace a World Cup after expressing their intention to participate in next year’s tournament in North America.
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