As a football fan, I consider myself incredibly fortunate. Few generations have had the privilege of witnessing a rivalry as extraordinary as the one between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. For nearly two decades, the two superstars dominated world football, redefining excellence and forcing fans, pundits and even casual observers to choose sides in what became the sport's greatest debate. Who is the greatest of all time: Messi or Ronaldo? This was never just a football discussion. It became a cultural phenomenon. The debate spilled out of stadiums and television studios and into classrooms, homes and workplaces. Friendships were tested. Families were divided. Every goal, trophy and individual award became fresh evidence in support of one player or the other. I remember watching football at my professor's house during one particularly heated match. A loyal Manchester United supporter and committed Cristiano Ronaldo admirer, he did not appreciate my enthusiastic celebration when Messi found the net. His response was swift: he ordered me out of the house. Thankfully, my exam papers had already been marked and the results submitted. At home, El Clásico weekends often felt like major national events. My siblings and I argued endlessly over Barcelona and Real Madrid, Messi and Ronaldo, often with enough passion to suggest that the result somehow affected our own careers. That was the power of this rivalry. For almost 20 years, neither player allowed the other to pull away for long. Whenever one achieved something remarkable, the other responded with something equally extraordinary. Ballon d'Or titles, Champions League trophies, scoring records and individual accolades became chapters in football's longest-running argument. It was a debate without a conclusion. Until now. Portugal's elimination by Spain in the World Cup Round of 16 may ultimately be remembered as the moment the argument tipped decisively in one direction. At 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo entered the tournament knowing it was likely to be his final opportunity to win the one trophy that has consistently distinguished his career from Messi's: the FIFA World Cup. To keep the debate fully alive, Ronaldo needed more than a strong tournament. He needed to win it. That is precisely what Messi achieved four years earlier in Qatar. When Argentina lifted the World Cup in 2022, Messi was not simply part of the winning team. He was its leader, inspiration and driving force. He delivered defining performances throughout the tournament and finally secured the one prize missing from an already incomparable career. For many observers, that triumph completed his football legacy. Ronaldo's final World Cup journey unfolded differently. While his experience and reputation remained invaluable to Portugal, age inevitably reduced the influence that once made him football's most feared attacking force. Against Spain, Portugal fought bravely, but the decisive moments belonged to others. When the final whistle sounded, Ronaldo's dream appeared over. There were no dramatic scenes, only the image of a football legend confronting the likely end of a lifelong pursuit. None of this should diminish Ronaldo's greatness. His career stands among the most remarkable in sporting history. He conquered England, Spain and Italy. He became the UEFA Champions League's all-time leading scorer, collected multiple Ballon d'Or awards and helped Portugal achieve unprecedented international success. Perhaps more than any footballer before him, Ronaldo demonstrated the value of discipline, determination and relentless self-improvement. He repeatedly reinvented himself to remain at the highest level long after many contemporaries had faded. His legacy is secure. Yet football history has always reserved special significance for the World Cup. Pelé's place among the game's immortals was strengthened by his World Cup triumphs. Diego Maradona's legend was elevated by his victory in 1986. Messi's triumph in Qatar provided the final piece of his puzzle. Fairly or unfairly, the World Cup remains football's ultimate measure of greatness. Without it, Ronaldo's case as the greatest player of all time becomes more difficult to defend against Messi's increasingly complete résumé. What makes this rivalry even more remarkable is that the fiercest battles rarely occurred between the two players themselves. Messi and Ronaldo were never close friends, but neither were they enemies. Much of the conflict existed among supporters determined to prove their favourite was superior. While fans argued endlessly, Messi and Ronaldo simply continued producing excellence. In many ways, each player's greatness was enhanced by the presence of the other. Ronaldo pushed Messi to maintain standards previously thought impossible. Messi forced Ronaldo to evolve and improve continuously in pursuit of new heights. Together, they transformed football. Future generations will have their own debates. Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland and others may go on to define the next era. But replicating what Messi and Ronaldo achieved will be extraordinarily difficult. For nearly two decades, they dominated football's biggest stages, shattered records and turned individual brilliance into a weekly expectation. Their rivalry became the benchmark against which all future football debates will be measured. So, has the debate finally ended? For many fans, the answer is yes. Messi's World Cup victory, combined with Ronaldo's final unsuccessful pursuit of the trophy, appears to have settled the argument. Others will continue to favour Ronaldo, citing his goalscoring records, athleticism, versatility and success across multiple leagues. That position remains entirely valid. After all, greatness cannot be measured by a single trophy alone. Yet when football history eventually delivers its verdict, one distinction may prove decisive. Cristiano Ronaldo gave the world one of the greatest careers football has ever seen. Lionel Messi gave the world that- and a World Cup.
