)
Lionel Messi gets another one over Cristiano Ronaldo after making the list of the best players to ever play at the FIFA World Cup.
Argentine maestro, Lionel Messi, has etched his name in the annals of football after making the list of the best World Cup players ever.
Messi, a record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, has been hailed as the second-best World Cup player in history by FourFourTwo.
)
18:09 - 03.11.2023
Messi will never win UEFA best player as award gets scrapped for Ballon d'Or union
UEFA announces their merger with the Ballon d'Or and scrapping of the UEFA Awards.
)
09:52 - 01.11.2023
Cristiano Ronaldo on Ballon d'Or: I deserve to win more than Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his dream of establishing himself as the greatest footballer in history by winning the most Ballon d'Or awards.
Messi at the World Cup
While Messi’s individual accolades and remarkable career at FC Barcelona especially are well-documented, the FIFA World Cup has been an arena where he has faced both triumph and defeat.
The debate about his standing in football history centres on his undeniable talent, but also his team’s achievements in global tournaments.
)
Messi, 35, kicked off his World Cup journey in 2006 and his performances have been nothing short of extraordinary ever since. Over the years, he has treated fans to unforgettable moments, dazzling goals, and incredible assists.
The 2022 World in Qatar became the pinnacle of his international career after he led his country, Argentina, to the title after an end-to-end final against France.
)
Argentina’s win in Qatar and Messi’s pivotal role in the victory has now led to the player being named amongst the best 30 players to have played at the World Cup.
“Messi could hardly have written the story more perfectly: he scored in every round – and in the penalty shootout victory over France in the final – and walked away with the Golden Ball,” FourFourTwo said in their report.
)
“Did that success cement his status as the greatest of all time? That debate will no doubt go on forever – but it did earn him an incredible eighth Ballon d'Or in 2023.”
Cristiano Ronaldo misses out
This debate also brings Messi’s rival, Cristiano Ronaldo into the spotlight. Like the Argentine, Ronaldo is often cited as one of the greatest to have played the game.
)
However, he was not named among the top 30 players listed by FourFourTwo.
The fact that the 38-year-old Portuguese superstar has experienced mixed fortunes at the World Cup and has also not impressed with Portugal in the competition, has cost him a place on the list.
)
With Messi now a World Cup winner, this has led to a nuanced discussion among fans, pundits, and historians, While Ronaldo’s brilliance remains undeniable, the weight placed on the World Cup in assessing a player’s all-time greatness remains a subject of debate.
The current consensus, as reflected in the ranking, places the late Pele, with his three World Cup titles, as the top World Cup player ever, with Diego Maradona, Brazil’s Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane making up the top five.
France’s superstar, Kylian Mbappe also made the list as the seventh-best player ever to grace to competition.
The World Cup debate centres on the context of a player’s journey in the global showpiece, performances and title won.
)
However, some will continue to argue that Ronaldo remains the greatest player ever even without a world cup title to his name.
Related content
)
21:15 - 31.10.2023
Fans MOCK Cristiano Ronaldo after Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d'Or title
Cristiano Ronaldo falls further behind Lionel Messi on Ballon d'Or wins and the Argentine's fans are making sure he is aware.
)
19:50 - 27.10.2023
Ex-Barcelona star wants Messi to play for Argentina at Paris 2024 Olympics
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has been invited to play for Argentina's Olympic team next summer but the Argentine could decline the offer.
)
23:00 - 20.10.2023
World Cup winner to serve two-year sentence after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs
A former teammate of Lionel Messi has been banned for two years after testing positive for a performance enhancing drug while playing for Sevilla in 2022
)
07:27 - 18.10.2023
Lionel Messi: Argentina captain delivers record-breaking performance in win over Peru
Argentina defeated Peru 2-0 in World Cup 2026 qualifiers thanks to a brace from Ballon d'Or favourite Lionel Messi.
)
15:54 - 13.10.2023
Lionel Messi react viciously after ex-Barcelona player 'spits' at him during Argentina’s game against Paraguay
During Argentina's match against Paraguay, Lionel Messi allegedly received a spit from former Barcelona player Antonio Sanabria, with the Inter-Miami player responding with the ideal retort.
)
07:07 - 13.10.2023
Messi's crossbar challenge, Emi Martinez sets astonishing record as Argentina beat Paraguay
Argentina win their seventh consecutive game since their triumph in Qatar.
)
23:30 - 10.10.2023
Ballon d'Or: Mbappe or Haaland deserves the award not Messi — Juventus star
France international Adrien Rabiot claims Lionel Messi does not deserve the Ballon d'Or over his compatriot Kylian Mbappe or treble winner Erling Haaland.
)
23:30 - 09.10.2023
France coach unhappy with Argentina, other South American countries hosting 2030 World Cup
After losing the final of the 2022 World Cup to Argentina, France coach Didier Deschamps believes they, along with other South American countries should not be allowed to host matches in the 2030 edition of the tournament
)
18:34 - 04.10.2023
FOOTBALL Morocco, Portugal, and Spain part of six countries to host historic centenary World Cup 2030
FIFA Council unanimously selected Morocco, Portugal, and Spain to host the historic 2030 Centenary World Cup, uniting three continents.
)
21:18 - 19.10.2023
Messi shares message of hope to injured Neymar
Ballon d'Or favourite Lionel Messi has commiserated with Brazilian forward Neymar after his former teammate suffered a gruesome injury while on international duty
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)