Social media was shocked when fans taunted Cristiano Ronaldo after Argentina captain Lionel Messi produced a stunning dribbling masterstroke against Peru. Messi scored twice in his country’s recent World Cup qualifier in a 2-0 win, but it was his dribbling ability that got fans talking.
Messi was dangerously close to the touchline and it was like a dance against not one but one defender. The Argentinian prodigy was practically playing with the first defender, swinging the ball from left to right and effectively knocking his opponent down.
The second defender charged forward, only to be easily deflected by Messi, who gracefully left the pair behind and continued into the final third. Social media erupted in awe when footage of the riveting dribbling started circulating online.
Fans took to Twitter to share their reactions, with one fan shouting out Cristiano Ronaldo, telling the Portugal legend:
“Cristiano Ronaldo Attention”
Another fan was even fascinated by the dribbling abilities of 36-year-old Lionel Messi:
“I’m 36 years old and it’s so easy to ruin my career.”
Here is a selection of their tweets:
Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes rich list, but Lionel Messi expected to win Ballon d’Or
Cristiano Ronaldo has been in the headlines lately, not for his performances on the pitch, but for his financial prowess. The Portuguese star, who currently plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, has been named the highest-paid football player in 2023 by Forbes (via ESPN).
Ronaldo is said to expect his total earnings to soar to a staggering $260 million by 2023. His massive contract with Al-Nassr reportedly contributes $200 million, while his strong endorsement portfolio contributes another $60 million annually.
Lionel Messi is not far behind. The Argentine legend ranks second on the list just behind Ronaldo with a total worth of $135 million. However, Messi has once again left the Portuguese in the rearview mirror when it comes to the Ballon d’Or.
According to “SPORT”, the Argentine legend will become the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or, which will be his eighth Ballon d’Or. The victory came courtesy of an inspiring performance from Lionel Messi to help Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
While Ronaldo’s current record of five Ballon d’Or wins cannot be underestimated, he still trails Messi following his extraordinary success. The Argentine has won seven titles and if he wins this year he will have three more than Cristiano Ronaldo.