Some of my earliest memories are of being tucked next to my father on the couch, soccer matches playing on the television, Messi and Ronaldo vying for the win. Soccer was a bonding experience for my dad and me, and the thrill of loudly debating Messi vs. Ronaldo in my first-grade classroom was unparalleled. These memories are blurred at the edges and fading with time, but the stark line I drew between these foes at the age of seven persists. Messi might have been #10 on the field, but he was #1 in my heart. Ronaldo was a flopper, and Messi could do no wrong (yes I may have had a selective memory).
Lionel Messi is an Argentine player often considered the GOAT (greatest of all time). With an impressive list of accolades and a plethora of skills, he has been making waves in the professional soccer world since his debut in 2004 at the age of 17. He is known for his field vision and teamwork, with sharp, accurate passes becoming a hallmark of his play. His slight build has only aided his success, allowing him to quickly avoid opponents. He began his career with the club FC Barcelona in La Liga, the premier Spanish football league, and remained there for 20 years, his name becoming central to the club’s brand. Yet in 2021, in a move that rocked the world, FC Barcelona let him go on a free transfer to the French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) due to a limited budget. While controversial, this decision has not impacted Messi’s performance. On Jan. 19, 2023, PSG beat Ronaldo’s current team, Al-Nassr, 5-4, with Messi contributing the first of PSG’s goals.
Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo is just two years older than Messi, and stands at 6’1” in comparison to Messi’s 5′ 7″. Despite their differences, they are remarkably alike as two of the highest paid athletes in the world. They are both forwards that debuted in professional leagues at 17, and they boast a similarly long list of awards. The fight to the top was equally challenging for them, coming from impoverished backgrounds and suffering from health issues.
Fans have a great deal of respect for Ronaldo as he overcame a heart condition to play for some of the strongest clubs of all time: Manchester United, Juventus, and Real Madrid. As of the end of 2022, this list includes Saudi Arabian team, Al-Nassr. Ronaldo’s footwork is fast and aggressive yet still maintains a polish that makes him a fan favorite. Not only does he hold the goal scoring record for Real Madrid (451 goals in 438 appearances), he is widely considered the top goal scorer ever. Unfortunately, this does not always work in his favor as some critics count this against his teamwork. For example, said in an article by The Daily Mirror; former Liverpool great, Steven Gerrard reveals that if forced, he would choose Messi simply because “he’s more of a team player,” providing more assists and final passes. Johan Cruyff, the namesake of the iconic Cruyff turn agrees, stating in Mundo Deportivo that he favors Messi, highlighting the “difference between being a great player and being a goalscorer,” something he thinks not many understand. A Franklin survey respondent also votes Messi, finding “his ego more in check than his counterpart.”
My highly qualified Instagram followers appear to corroborate this viewpoint, with 88% of 58 voters choosing Messi over Ronaldo. It’s not just a simple preference though; this is a debate that has the power to end families, friendships, and dare I say the Franklin women’s soccer team. A passionate member of the team had some choice words for Ronaldo and in response their teammate had some words for them which were not exactly appropriate for publishing.
Others are not so divided, acknowledging that both players are extremely talented and in the end it mainly comes down to a personal preference. One student writes that they’re “both too good” and so it’s pointless to try to compare them. Despite favoring Ronaldo, a different student agrees, feeling most comparisons are unfair, especially in regards to the World Cup. Now that Messi has a win under his belt many view it as an end to the debate, but this student feels that the win should be attributed to “the team as a whole and not just one player.”
For Ethan Tucker-Santos, a sophomore at Franklin, it all comes down to the question of: “Who has better skills?” He believes that it’s Messi without a doubt, in both footwork and decision making. But does this hold up against the statistics?
According to messivsronaldo.app’s data sourced from Opta, a sports analytics company, Ronaldo leads in goals with 820 compared to Messi’s 795, whereas Messi’s 350 assists bests Ronaldo’s 234. Just as a reminder: Ronaldo is two years older than Messi and has had over a hundred more game appearances. Both have received the prestigious Ballons d’Or multiple times, and have appeared as FIFA’s World Player of the Year. Messi tends to possess a slight lead in trophy counts, but it’s likely impossible to ever truly compare these two legends, as each marginal difference in statistics is so close that a myriad of factors could tip the scales in either of their favors. Skill counts are not always accurate and teammates and opponents contribute to the result of passes, shots, and any other action taken on the field. Soccer goes deeper than simple numbers, it’s a delicate balance of field vision, footwork, and athleticism.
Perhaps for this reason Franklin students have refocused, beginning another, even more spirited debate, unbeknownst to many. “Who is hotter?” rings through the halls of Franklin and into an anonymous submission box, revealing a fairly even split between favoring Messi or Ronaldo for 17 Franklin students. However, there is a large discrepancy in the hotness ratio, divulging the fact that Ronaldo fans seem to like his muscles for reasons other than a tactical advantage. An anonymous student writes, “Messi is better but Ronaldo is hotter,” which seems to be the general consensus among the Franklin Lightning.
In addition, this box opened the floor for another star player, Neymar, with three votes for him, despite him not even being an option. Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. is a Brazilian forward who is known for his high score counts, exaggerated fouls, on field fights, and off field legal troubles. Regardless of his controversial career, fans love him for his looks and confident, speedy play.
Messi and Ronaldo have also had their fair share of controversy. Both were found guilty of tax fraud, which as a felony normally results in jail time. However, they were able to bypass their sentences, instead paying fines of €252,000 and €18.8m respectively.
This is not Ronaldo’s only run in with the law. A rape lawsuit against him was recently dismissed due to bad-faith conduct, after a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2009. In 2010 he paid her $375,000 in hush money but her attorneys made a bid to void the decision, asking for more money. This bid is the one that has been dismissed.
These controversies have not slowed the greats or their supporters down, but the insurmountable march of time may. Both are over 10 years older than the average professional soccer player, and are at the typical age players retire, although many continue well into their 40s. Neither have expressed an explicit desire to hang up their cleats. Still, some feel they are dropping retirement hints. If true, this may clear a path for other players to shine.
The 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup created a world stage for new players to join Ronaldo and Messi among the greats. Yet it also highlights the continuous dominance of certain teams. Can it be attributed to their rosters including stars such as Messi or Ronaldo or is it based on a historical lack of resources? Does that lack of access to the same training or monetary support prevent players on less developed teams from becoming stars? As Messi and Ronaldo’s careers wind down, perhaps it’s time to focus our attention elsewhere. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is happening this summer and will include 32 rosters to choose the next heartthrob or GOAT from. Hopefully, they won’t have tax fraud and sexual assault allegations behind them.
