"Who is the greatest in history?" This is an old question that fans have been arguing about for nearly 20 years. At dinner tables, behind keyboards, and on the sidelines of matches, the names of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo almost occupy half of all football topics. The concept of "the two best of their generation" once struck a chord with many - "Messi is a genius, Ronaldo is a machine."
But now, as Messi lifts the World Cup trophy and Ronaldo gradually fades from the historical stage, the seemingly equal status of the two seems to have been broken by time and achievements. What has made Messi step by step become the "GOAT" (Greatest Of All Time), while Ronaldo has gradually slipped down the historical rankings? Let us delve into this.
Messi's story is a typical script of rising from the trough to the peak. As a player with extraordinary talent, Messi's career highlights are countless, but his start with the national team was bumpy. In the 2014 World Cup final, he stood before the world but unfortunately lost to Germany, missing an opportunity to be crowned king.
Even more heart-wrenching was his consecutive failures on the Copa America field - reaching the final three times and failing three times. Even worse, after one loss, Messi even publicly announced his retirement from the Argentine national team, which once led people to question his leadership abilities.
However, great figures never succumb to doubts. In the 2021 Copa America, he finally broke the curse, helping Argentina defeat Brazil and win his first major national championship. The 2022 Qatar World Cup further cemented his historical status. With seven goals and three assists, he led Argentina to the top of the world and won the World Cup Golden Ball Award, becoming one of the most comprehensive and honored players in history.
Today's Messi, with honors such as the World Cup, four Champions League titles, and ten La Liga championships, has achieved a "golden grand slam." He is no longer the little guy burdened with doubts but an undisputed "historical number one" in terms of honor and achievement.
Messi's peak is not only reflected in his honors but also in his impact on the game. In 2012, his record of 91 goals in a single year was almost unbelievable. That year, Messi was not just scoring goals but redefining what it means to be an attacking player. He shaped an era with his 17-year career at Barcelona, and some say that Barcelona is no longer the same after Messi left.
Speaking of Ronaldo, no one would question his talent and professional spirit. He is the type of player who climbed to the pinnacle through hard work. From Manchester United to Real Madrid to Juventus, he broke countless records with his superb goal-scoring ability and influence on the field. He has won the Champions League five times, including a stunning three-peat at Real Madrid. He also earned the label of "Mr. Key" with his status as the top scorer in Champions League history.
However, if we place Ronaldo in the context of history and compare him with those true "ball kings," problems arise. His career is indeed filled with honors and records, but there are shortcomings in the crucial aspect of "comprehensiveness." The first issue is his leadership ability.
Although he led Portugal to win the 2016 European Cup, this tournament is often considered a victory based on team strength rather than Ronaldo's individual performance. His performance in major competitions is frequently compared with Messi's, and statistics like "5003" (zero goals and three assists in five games) and "12320" (three goals and 20 shots in 12 games) have led to greater skepticism.
What is even more noteworthy is the media's adjustment of Ronaldo's ranking. In 2024, "Sports Illustrated" ranked him 15th in history, the first time he fell out of the top ten in his career. In contrast, Messi sits firmly at the top, and this contrast has completely shattered the concept of "the two best of their generation."
In addition to the decline in competitive performance, Ronaldo relied more on brand influence to maintain his popularity in the later stages of his career. With over 500 million followers on social media, he became one of the highest-earning athletes in the world. However, in the football world, historical status is determined by on-field performance, not commercial value. Perhaps Ronaldo is still a great player, but compared to those who can "define an era," he is more like an executor of an era.
Where does the concept of "the two best of their generation" come from? In fact, it is essentially a gimmick proposed by the media and fans to create topic heat. From 2008 to 2018, the two almost monopolized the Ballon d'Or, making their status appear very close. However, in reality, since 2014, Messi's advantage in media rankings has gradually become apparent.
Whether it's data, technique, honors, or match influence, Messi has always been ahead. It can be said that behind the facade of the two best, Messi and Ronaldo have never truly been equals.
This kind of historical alternation is actually not new. From Pele to Maradona, from Maradona to Zidane, football always chooses its own child of the era. And now, with Messi lifting the World Cup and Ronaldo fading from the mainstream stage, the concept of "the two best of their generation" will also become a thing of the past. The future belongs to young players like Mbappe and Haaland, but whether they can reach Messi's level remains to be seen by time.
The judgment of the greatest in history is never just a simple addition of numbers and honors. Football requires talent, but it also requires the ability to break through individually and change the trend of the times. Messi was able to reign supreme because he transcended victory itself and became a symbol of an era. While Ronaldo's peak was glorious, it was more of an execution of excellence rather than a change in the trend of football.
The era of the two best will eventually pass, and the future of football remains exciting. But no matter what, on the canvas of history, Messi and Ronaldo have left distinctly different strokes, one an artist, the other a warrior. The beauty of football lies in its ability to accommodate such different forms of brilliance.