>>149879504>>149880203>>149891830Messi really is better and the GOAT, don't get me wrong, but the rivalry was a real thing and it was PEAK. In 2008 there wasn't much of a debate just yet, but Ronaldo was clear, then from 2009 to 2012 Messi was far ahead and there wasn't much of a real discussion at all, Ronaldo seemed like he'd be a flop at Real Madrid in the end, with the 2nd wave of Galacticos never winning them another UCL... then from 2013 and onwards, with 4 UCLs in 5 years, an Euro and a Nations League for Portugal, which at that time hadn't won much in their whole history, Messi "retiring" from Argentina without any major titles, and even in Ronaldo's return to United, where Messi was struggling on PSG while Ronaldo seemed like United's only proper player, he was far ahead...
2013 to 2022 was a period with a genuine debate, the World Cup is what ultimately settled it.