Shortly after Lionel Messi led Argentina to victory in the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo weighed in on whether the win settled the longstanding debate over who is the greatest of all time (GOAT).
During the World Cup, Messi showcased his brilliance by scoring seven goals and providing three assists in seven games, earning him the Player of the Tournament award. Many believed that Messi’s performance in the tournament solidified his status as the greatest footballer of all time and settled the debate against Ronaldo.
However, Ronaldo disagreed with this notion, stating that there would always be individuals who prefer him over Messi.
“Even if I win the World Cup, that will continue,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner expressed in an interview shortly after the 2022 World Cup (via SportBible).
“Some people like me more, some less. It’s like in life, some like blondes, some like brunettes. I have always had to show what I can do year after year. I would love to win this tournament,” he added.
While Ronaldo acknowledged that winning the World Cup would be a dream come true for him, he emphasized that failure to do so would not define his legacy.
“I’m ambitious, but if you tell me I won’t win any more tournaments, I would still be happy given all I have won. In the history books, all other records will be there. But obviously, a World Cup on the shelf wouldn’t be bad. It would be a dream,” he remarked.
The next World Cup is scheduled for 2026 and will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
