Endrick, a new football star recruited to Real Madrid, quoted Cristiano Ronaldo as his idol. This is also seen with Haaland, Mbappe, Saka, Vini Jr, Rodrygo, Kvara. So many young players today all state Ronaldo as an influence for them. Messi has more accolades than Ronaldo, but the only young players I can think that stated him as an influence is Julian Alvarez and Jude Bellingham. Why do you think most young players respect and admire Ronaldo more than Messi?
Messi is too talented. Talent can’t be acquired through work. He is the perfect combination of talent and hard work. He is a football God. You don’t look up to being a God, you don’t try to mimic God’s actions. You will never get there. You just fear and revere him.
Half of the players you mentioned play, or will play at Real Madrid at some point, pointing the biggest legend of their greatest rival as an idol will be kinda looked at with bad eyes I believe
what’s with the lack of upvotes lol
Well, in a way I don’t mean to be condescending, not everyone has to believe Messi is the best player ever. That debate has always been highly contentious, mainly because it is impossible to compare players from different eras (it’s already hard to compare players from the same era let alone different ones)
Adding to what has been said, Cristiano Rolando also lives the way most of the young footballers want to live: women, cars, wealth, physique. Messi barely makes any waves outside of what he does in the pitch.
Yep, google Ronaldo Las Vegas for more info.
I think of cristiano rapist
Exactly. Whether people like it or not, Ronaldo is the ideal man of modern society. Most famous person on earth, incredibly succesful at his job, tons of succesful businesses, has dated tons of beautiful women, now has a happy family. Overcame so many difficult times, like the death of his father. Messi is a random dude who is very good at kicking the ball.
Well for starters, Ronaldo is 6ft 2 and ripped head to toe while Messi is a borderline manlet.
Because he’s a Madrid player
He’s playing for RM, he ain’t gonna say Messi is he? 🙄
same argument can be used for Mbappe at PSG
or haaland
Nah it’s not the entirely same, there’s been previous examples given where people at Madrid know they aren’t allowed to say it. The very next podcast after leaving Real Madrid TV, Phil Kitro mentioned how he thinks Messi is the best player and alluded to that he wasn’t allowed to say that whilst working for Real Madrid.
Hes playing for rm because of ronaldo though. Rodrygo and vini both said in interviews they got their barca offer first but waited for a madrid offer (endrick said something similar about only wanting madrid but I don’t think barca reached out). Also while the alaba shit was obviously bad bellingham has come out and said he prefers messi and thinks he’s better and the fans don’t seem to mind that much
Messi is a freak. The greatest natural talent possibly ever. Ronaldo was a great winger, but could’ve so easily gone the way of Robben, Ribery and a long list of other wingers that are great when they’re good but can disappear and not really be the greatest. Ronaldo worked his ass off to be the level he got to.
This is such a dumb discussion triggering both of the fandoms
Media presence.
Ronaldo ploughs out content, is always happy to be in the spotlight, and loves to talk about himself / his opinions. Dating a string of high-profile models helps as well.
Messi plays football, does the post-match interviews, the sponsors’ media stuff, and that’s it.
Messi plays football, does the post-match interviews, the sponsors’ media stuff, and that’s it.
Plays football, does an interview calling an opponent player “idiot”, choking a player from Uruguay, choking a player from Brazil. You know, the usual stuff, away from spotlight.
Ronaldo was self made. Messi was a born genius
Appart d’or what’s already said,
Ronaldo was super entertaining with all the skills and tricks compares to Messi, and when you are young that’s something you like
but I also think the charisma, attitude, personality, leadership and mentality makes the difference.
Because CR7 is the result of an impressive work ethic. One of a kind. And this creates great admiration beyond football skills & accolades which both CR7 and Messi have.
Cuz Ronaldo is Cool.