CRistiano Ronaldo’s documentary sparked a strong reaction after the Portugal star admitted he was “relieved” when Lionel Messi lost against Germany in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.
This revelation reignited the historic debate over who is the best soccer player of his generation, a debate that has featured head-to-head competition, individual awards and constant comparisons between the two idols for more than a decade.
2014 Brazil World Cup and Confessions
The 2014 FIFA World Cup final ended in Germany’s 1-0 overtime victory, derailing Argentina’s dream of winning a third World Cup.
In an excerpt from the documentary, Ronaldo revealed that he even prayed to Our Lady of Fatima to keep Messi from becoming champion. After the final whistle, he admitted he felt a sense of relief seeing his great rivals fail to win football’s most important trophy.
Worst nightmare: Messi champion in 2022
But what was calm for the Portuguese in 2014 has turned into his “worst nightmare” eight years later.
On December 18, 2022, Lionel Messi was finally crowned world champion in Qatar after the historic final match against France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Messi scored twice and finished second in the World Cup Golden Boot race with seven goals, surpassed only by Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final and finished with eight goals.
Argentina tied the match 3-3 and won 4-2 in a penalty shootout. Messi scored two goals that day and also hit a shot from 12 yards, sealing what many consider to be the decisive victory in the debate over who is the best player of our time.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi: the never-ending debate
The world of soccer tends to view the World Cup as the ultimate historical debate, but the rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi goes beyond titles.
Two extraordinary careers, two different styles, a generational rivalry
And now, a confession that reignites the eternal comparison.
