Cristiano Ronaldo states that the World Cup is not his dream, while Messi describes winning the World Cup as feeling like the birth of a child and incredibly magnificent.

The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry is not limited to the field; recently both have spoken in interviews, creating fierce debate, yet fans believe Ronaldo suffered a decisive loss this round.

Ronaldo stated in the interview:The World Cup is not my dream, and judging the greatest player in history based on seven games is completely unfair.Ronaldo’s words were shocking; perhaps even he doesn’t realize he’s suffering from selective memory. Before the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo said the World Cup was the most important achievement for a footballer and that he would trade Champions League titles and Ballon d'Or awards for a World Cup trophy. Many fans say Ronaldo has become obsessed, especially after Argentina won the 2022 World Cup. Ronaldo’s interviews often trigger mentions of “Messi” unconditionally.

Messi said in his interview:When I won the World Cup as a professional player, the feeling was like when my child was born — an indescribable sensation, extremely special and magnificent; any words to describe it fall short.Messi’s interviews focus on himself and never mention Ronaldo, which might be the real difference and gap between the two.

In my opinion, the World Cup is a perfect finale for Messi. Even without the trophy, some fans wouldn’t recognize him as the greatest, but most believe Messi remains the GOAT even without a World Cup title. Winning the World Cup with Argentina marked the moment he shed the burden of the national team and mental shackles to truly enjoy football. For professional players, the World Cup is like the college entrance exam — a true big test.

Why do so many fans adore Messi?Because they love watching beautiful football, and Messi is humble yet talented.