As the unrivaled dual stars of the football world, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have not only monopolized trophies, glory, and limelight over the years but also dominated discussions and attention. Even after their departure from European football, they remain the most influential figures in the global football scene. Ronaldo has increased the visibility of the Saudi League, while Messi has made people fall in love with Major League Soccer (MLS).
Indeed, before Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo ventured into the desert, few would have paid attention to the Saudi League. People were unaware of clubs like Al Ittihad Jeddah or the rivalries between Al Nassr and Al Hilal.
However, Ronaldo's arrival at Al Nassr changed everything. Since the moment he stepped onto the club, the Saudi League has been frequently mentioned, drawing more and more eyes towards the desert. People are curious about how Ronaldo will perform on a stage built from oil and money.
Similarly, MLS was largely ignored until Messi made his choice. Despite hosting football greats like Henry, Kaka, Ibrahimovic, Gerrard, and Pirlo, MLS remained distant and unfamiliar to many. Beyond the lack of promotion and relegation, our knowledge of MLS was minimal. We only knew that David Beckham, known as the heartthrob, owned a team there called Inter Miami.
But when the ball king Messi brought his talent, skill, and aura to the turf of Inter Miami, MLS instantly became the center of attention, standing out from the rest. Clearly, gazing upon the ball king often seems more important than following the top five leagues, and it happens involuntarily.
Ticket sales soared, stock prices skyrocketed, and Messi's arrival not only transformed Inter Miami but also altered Americans' perception of football. As more Americans were captivated by Messi's delightful play, Beckham smiled, showing off his sun-kissed teeth. He knew his name would be etched in the memories of Americans because he brought Messi to the United States, and Messi is the one who could change the future of American football.
Comparing oneself to another can be disheartening, and although Portuguese Ronaldo is fierce and great, he still falls short compared to Messi. Over the years, Ronaldo has never stopped chasing Messi, always wanting to prove himself and show the world that his sword is faster.
Unfortunately, fate once again played a cruel joke on the Portuguese. Despite his strict self-discipline and immense effort, Ronaldo fell again in his invisible competition with Messi, with Messi emerging victorious and Ronaldo suffering a crushing defeat.
While Messi basked in the warm Miami sunshine and glanced at the incoming title of World Footballer of the Year, Ronaldo, who had exerted himself to the last drop of sweat in the desert, received bad news. The Asian Ballon d'Or was revealed, with the honor going to Asian superstar Son Heung-min, while Ronaldo only ranked third.
I can't help but speculate on Ronaldo's anger and embarrassment; this is probably destiny. Although he may never fulfill his lifelong wish of catching up to Messi, we must acknowledge that Ronaldo is the closest to the football king Messi in the football world. For most players, being on par with Messi is unimaginable. Who else, besides Ronaldo, has the qualifications to be the other half of the unparalleled duo?
After Messi claimed his eighth World Footballer of the Year trophy, some people pretended to be fans of Erling Haaland, drumming up support for the Norwegian. They repeatedly mentioned his statistics of 50 goals and 11 assists in 60 games. Is 50 goals really invincible? Have a little common sense, will you?
Go ask Ronaldo about his feelings. In the 10-11 season, he scored 53 goals; in the 11-12 season, 60 goals; in the 12-13 season, 55 goals; in the 13-14 season, 51 goals; in the 14-15 season, 61 goals; and in the 15-16 season, 51 goals. See, Ronaldo once went on a frenzy, scoring over 50 goals for six consecutive seasons.
So what? Portuguese Ronaldo is still chasing Messi's footsteps, with only Messi in his eyes because Messi has a higher goal-scoring efficiency and is even more terrifying. Ronaldo averages 0.8 goals per game in the top five leagues, while Messi averages 0.93. Ronaldo's single-season record is 61 goals, whereas Messi's is 73.
Notably, Messi set a record of 91 goals in a football year, an astonishing feat that humbles and surpasses all others. In 2012, Messi scored a total of 91 goals, including 79 for Barcelona and 12 for the Argentine national team. Note that these national team goals are of high quality, with three against Brazil, three against Switzerland, one against Germany, and matches against Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Chile—none of them pushovers.
Clearly, from the perspective of greatness and prowess, Haaland can't even compare to Messi, let alone stand shoulder to shoulder with him. It's not easy to score 50 goals in a year; what's challenging is maintaining peak performance across several consecutive seasons. Even Ronaldo couldn't handle Messi, yet you sit in your basements tapping away at your keyboards saying Messi isn't good enough?
Of course, you might say that Messi's greatness is too far removed, but you must admit that this is Messi's charm. His talent and skill have already won over so many people, including today's football giants. The fact that 107 captains presented flowers to Messi is proof that, in their eyes, the ball king Messi is supreme and unparalleled. Perhaps, before Messi retires, football giants are unwilling to award anyone else, just as Ajax coach Van der Schip said: "I choose Messi; his individual ability is the strongest. It's that simple."
Fourteen years ago today, Messi became the youngest player in Barcelona's history to reach 100 goals. Fourteen years later, as Messi enjoys the warm Miami sunshine, he faces criticism. How ironic it is that Messi did not attend the award ceremony and didn't even celebrate on social media. Apparently, in the eyes of the ball king Messi, the title of World Footballer of the Year is nothing significant.