A new social media post has stirred up the age-old debate between fans of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by compiling over 100 footballers’ opinions on who stands out as the top player.
For years, Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the conversation about football greatness. Their rivalry is nothing short of legendary, with both snagging just about every award the sport has to offer. Ronaldo took the lead by snagging a major international trophy with Portugal at Euro 2016. Not to be outdone, Messi matched this with Argentina’s Copa America win in 2021 and even one-upped by lifting the World Cup the next year.
In this intriguing 11-minute video, you’ll hear from their former teammates and some of football’s finest minds. But here’s the kicker: when the votes were counted, Messi led the pack with 101 votes to Ronaldo’s 40. Some big names like Giorgio Chiellini and Iker Casillas threw their weight behind Ronaldo, while stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Ronaldinho favored Messi.
In a candid chat back in 2019, Ronaldo shared that this competition pushed them both to excel. “I have no doubt that Messi has made me a better player and vice-versa,” he admitted. Just like the storied rivalries of Michael Jordan in basketball or Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in Formula 1, Ronaldo sees their rivalry as a healthy one that’s pushed both to greatness.
