Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two of, if not the, greatest players of all time – there’s no doubt about it.
No matter who you think is the best, there is no doubt that this is an era that has seen many respect the two GOATs.
Messi spent most of his career at Barcelona before spending two years at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to MLS to play for Inter Miami in the summer.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, began his career at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United, where he became a world star, often pitted against Messi and Barcelona as his time at Real Madrid declined.
After spells at Juventus and second spells at Manchester United, Ronaldo left Old Trafford last year to join Saudi Arabian side Al Nasr.
Both Ronaldo and Messi have achieved great success at club level, winning league titles and Champions League winners’ medals, and they have won 13 Ballon d’Ors between them.
Ronaldo’s international success with Portugal has been considered a key differentiator for years, with him triumphing at Euro 2016 and regularly in the UEFA Nations League.
Messi has now looked back on the victory in Qatar a year after his success.
But the admiration he now receives from the Argentine public isn’t always the same as before, with fans in his home country not feeling the same affection for Messi as Barcelona fans do for the 36-year-old.
He now takes comfort in the admiration of the vast majority of Argentines, admitting it is a “good feeling”.
Speaking on the One Year Later special “Champions” on Disney Star+ (via ESPN), Messi said: “I was having a bad time. My family and the people who love me were the same. They (Argentinian critics) It was very unfair for a generation. “The players, they said a lot of bad things about me. I don’t mean any harm.
“I feel like changing that and winning the support of all Argentinian people is a victory for me. Today 95 or 100 percent of Argentinians love me, which is a great feeling.
“I didn’t question why they (some Argentinian fans) didn’t want me. I saw how they attacked me from many places. I lived in two opposite realities. In Barcelona, winning often and having full support, in love in Argentina, The situation is completely different and criticism is everywhere.
“If you put in effort, sacrifice, work and humility, eventually you will achieve your goals. The road may be difficult, but you have to keep fighting for your dreams and trying to achieve them.
“I’ve always loved playing football, loved being in the national team and being on the pitch, but I’ve never enjoyed it as much as I did today.”