November 7 – Lionel Messi has responded pointedly to Cristiano Ronaldo’s claim that winning the World Cup does not define greatness – calling the triumph “the ultimate achievement” for any footballer – as the Messi vs Ronaldo debate rears its head once more.
The Argentine, speaking at the America Business Forum in Florida, reflected on his country’s 2022 triumph in Qatar, describing it as the culmination of a lifetime’s pursuit.
“It’s hard to put into words what that title meant – personally, for my family, for my team-mates, and for the country,” Messi said. “For a player, winning the World Cup is the ultimate achievement. There’s nothing beyond it. That was the missing piece.”
His comments came just days after Ronaldo reignited the long-running debate between the two modern greats in an interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored. In the discussion, Ronaldo appeared to downplay the importance of football’s biggest prize.
“If you ask me, is it a dream to win the World Cup? No, it’s not a dream,” said the Al Nassr forward. “To define if I’m one of the best in history by one competition – six or seven games – you think it’s fair?”
The remarks raised eyebrows given Ronaldo’s emotional reaction to Portugal’s World Cup exit in 2022, when he left the pitch in tears after a quarter-final defeat to Morocco. The 40-year-old later called winning the tournament “the biggest and most ambitious dream” of his career.
Messi, meanwhile, has often spoken of the Qatar 2022 victory as the crowning moment of his career, completing a trophy haul that includes 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, a Copa América, and an Olympic gold medal. The Argentina captain scored twice in the final against France before lifting the trophy after a penalty shoot-out – a moment widely seen as sealing his legacy as the greatest player of all time.
Both players have continued to thrive beyond Europe – Messi, now 38, with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, and Ronaldo continuing to score prolifically in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr. Despite their advancing years, both have made it clear they will feature at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
Ronaldo also took the opportunity to insist that it is harder to score in the Saudi League than it is in La Liga – as he once again attempted to push his own accolades in the Middle East into more recognition than they perhaps deserve.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]