DOHA: It was a rest day at the World Cup on Thursday, but the never-ending football discussion couldn’t be stopped – who is the better player, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
With no games in the Qatari capital for the second straight day, fans flocked to Souk Waqif to shop and sightsee, and the decade-long debate over who the GOAT – the ‘greatest of all time’ – was going on to the cafes and restaurants.
Supporters of Argentina, who meet the Netherlands in their World Cup quarter-finals on Friday, and Portugal, who meet Morocco on Saturday, were well represented in the narrow streets and squares of the souk, with many neutrals also playing.
“It’s Ronaldo – I think Ronaldo’s all-round game is great. I think he’s more versatile than Messi who has a wonderful left foot, but Ronaldo is the better footballer and athlete,” said England fan David Barley said Reuters.
Fellow England fan and Arsenal fan TV presenter Robbie Lyle disagreed.
“It has to be Messi now – I’ve been out here for all the games and Messi led the show in the last game (against Australia),” he told Reuters.
rivals
Messi, 35, and Ronaldo, two years his senior, have dominated the most divisive football debate for almost 10 years, particularly when they were rivals at Barcelona and football real Madrid respectively.
Both are playing in their fifth World Cup, but neither has lifted the trophy yet. It’s the only major honor they’ve missed in their glittering career and this could be their last chance to achieve it.
Ronaldo being benched in Portugal’s 6-1 win over Switzerland has caused some of his die-hard fans to reconsider the current situation.
“Today? It’s probably Messi, but overall I prefer Ronaldo – I’m a Portugal fan, Sporting is my team, so Ronaldo,” said American fan Melo Barrows.
Badr Saleh Debel of Saudi Arabia wore a traditional white thobe in the busy souk and said he had no doubt Messi was the greatest.
“Messi, Messi, absolutely Messi,” he said. “It’s not about the ball, the goals, the story. He’s a good player, he scores, he prepares – what a player, he’s the best player ever.”
With the two greats in the twilight of their careers, according to Melo Barrows, there’s only one sure way to decide whose legacy will be the greatest.
“A final between Portugal and Argentina would be the best scenario,” he said.
With no games in the Qatari capital for the second straight day, fans flocked to Souk Waqif to shop and sightsee, and the decade-long debate over who the GOAT – the ‘greatest of all time’ – was going on to the cafes and restaurants.
Supporters of Argentina, who meet the Netherlands in their World Cup quarter-finals on Friday, and Portugal, who meet Morocco on Saturday, were well represented in the narrow streets and squares of the souk, with many neutrals also playing.
“It’s Ronaldo – I think Ronaldo’s all-round game is great. I think he’s more versatile than Messi who has a wonderful left foot, but Ronaldo is the better footballer and athlete,” said England fan David Barley said Reuters.
Fellow England fan and Arsenal fan TV presenter Robbie Lyle disagreed.
“It has to be Messi now – I’ve been out here for all the games and Messi led the show in the last game (against Australia),” he told Reuters.
rivals
Messi, 35, and Ronaldo, two years his senior, have dominated the most divisive football debate for almost 10 years, particularly when they were rivals at Barcelona and football real Madrid respectively.
Both are playing in their fifth World Cup, but neither has lifted the trophy yet. It’s the only major honor they’ve missed in their glittering career and this could be their last chance to achieve it.
Ronaldo being benched in Portugal’s 6-1 win over Switzerland has caused some of his die-hard fans to reconsider the current situation.
“Today? It’s probably Messi, but overall I prefer Ronaldo – I’m a Portugal fan, Sporting is my team, so Ronaldo,” said American fan Melo Barrows.
Badr Saleh Debel of Saudi Arabia wore a traditional white thobe in the busy souk and said he had no doubt Messi was the greatest.
“Messi, Messi, absolutely Messi,” he said. “It’s not about the ball, the goals, the story. He’s a good player, he scores, he prepares – what a player, he’s the best player ever.”
With the two greats in the twilight of their careers, according to Melo Barrows, there’s only one sure way to decide whose legacy will be the greatest.
“A final between Portugal and Argentina would be the best scenario,” he said.
