They broke all records, but can they win a World Cup?
November 18, 2022
Top illustration: Nazario Graziano / agencyrush.com
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have defined each other’s careers, legacies and the world of football for more than a decade.
They have managed to match each other, scaling previously unprecedented heights, but they embody different philosophies.
There’s Messi – shorter, more introverted, a natural football genius who shares his creativity with the team and assists almost as much as he scores. And then there’s Ronaldo – taller, a physical specimen who worked his way through defenses, grafting and training until he was simply better than anyone else on the pitch.
But for all their accolades, neither of them has won the World Cup. The Qatar 2022 competition could be their last chance to determine if one of them can finally win the biggest trophy of them all.
Watch the star players go head-to-head going back to their professional debuts.
August 2002
August 2003
October 2004
August 2005
June 2006
April 2007
May 2009
July 2009
November 2009
December 2009
July 2010
April 2011
March 2012
April 2014
July 2014
November 2014
October 2015
June 2016
July 2016
April 2017
March 2018
May 2018
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July 2018
October 2018
July 2019
July 2021
August 2021
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February 2022
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November 2022