In the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup, the fortunes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have sharply diverged, capturing the attention of soccer fans worldwide.
Portugal faced the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17, drawing 1-1 in their opening match of Group K. Despite being considered a strong contender for the championship, Portugal had to settle for just one point.
Ronaldo's performance, in particular, has come under scrutiny. Statistics released after the match revealed that he recorded three shots, the most of any player, but failed to hit the target, resulting in a shooting accuracy of 0%. He also had an expected goals (xG) of 0.46 but did not score. His touches totaled 25, with only one pass in the attacking area.
In contrast, Messi made headlines by scoring a hat trick against Algeria, setting new records in World Cup history. He achieved the most attacking points in World Cup history and became the oldest player to score a hat trick, earning a perfect rating of 10 for his performance.
As the contrasting results of the two superstars emerged, online comparisons intensified. Users commented, "Messi is still writing World Cup history," "The gap between Messi and Ronaldo seems to be widening," and "It's disappointing considering Portugal's squad strength."
Reactions from domestic soccer fans were even more critical. Ronaldo faced backlash for not playing a single minute in a friendly match in South Korea in 2019, leading to the so-called 'no-show controversy.' This incident has left him with a negative image, earning him the nickname 'Nalgandu' in South Korea.
With another underwhelming performance in this World Cup, critical opinions have flooded related online communities. Some users expressed disappointment, stating, "He lacks the decisiveness of his earlier days," and "He is inevitably compared to Messi."
Looking ahead, Portugal aims to bounce back in their second group stage match. Unlike Messi, who has once again etched his name in World Cup history, Ronaldo faces the challenge of proving his worth in the remaining games.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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