Argentina fans were asked whether they would happily have Lionel Messi play for another decade if the trade-off were that Cristiano Ronaldo lifts the 2026 World Cup. It was a street interview by SPORTbible, in which the interviewer elicited reactions from a fanbase deeply passionate about their captain.
For some of those asked, the prospect of Ronaldo getting his hands on football’s biggest prize was a bridge too far, sweetener or not. One fan struggled with the proposal, while another flatly refused to even consider Cristiano Ronaldo winning the World Cup under any circumstances.
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Some admitted the allure of seeing their talisman walk the pitch for another decade was too great. Others argued that Lionel Messi’s long career would bring another World Cup for Argentina anyway, so there was no need for the bargain in the first place.
For nearly 20 years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have set the tone of the modern game with a rivalry unlike any other. Messi emerged from the famed La Masia academy to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer. He won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards alongside countless league titles and UEFA Champions League crowns.
Eventually, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain, and then Inter Miami, but his biggest achievement was finally winning the World Cup with Argentina in 2022. He has also led La Albiceleste to two Copa America trophies in the last half-decade.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo built his legacy with stints at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr, winning every major European league he played in. The Portuguese forward is the leading all-time scorer in international football, racking up an incredible tally for his country.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far
Both legends are on course to create new chapters at the 2026 World Cup, and the defending Champions have enjoyed a blistering early start thanks to Lionel Messi. The Argentine scored twice against Austria, taking his World Cup 2026 goals to five, while his total of 18 goals is the most in World Cup history.
His double completed a 2-0 win that saw Argentina through to the last 32 and left him clear of Miroslav Klose’s record. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo had a tough beginning but proved his critics wrong in the match against Uzbekistan.
The Portugal captain netted a double in a 5-0 demolition to take his World Cup tally to 10 goals and surpass Eusebio as his nation’s all-time top scorer in the tournament. He was the first man to score in six different World Cups, achieving it at the age of 41, and with 145 international goals, he is far ahead of Lionel Messi.
Edited by Nnanna Mba
