07 Oct 2026 18:42:47
Whilst schmaltzy, Messi showed how to retire with some dignity, whilst Ronaldo continues to behave like a 6 year old. His statement was disgraceful, the Portuguese FA should retire him, but they won't.

It's interesting that Portugal have won games without him but he still casts a long shadow and nobody seems to have the balls to deal with him. A sad end to a wonderful career.

1.) 07 Oct 2026
07 Oct 2026 19:57:07
Hes still the best and he's right sbout what he said.

The manager should be smart and treat him with more respect as he has won everything in the game and wouldve scored goals in those games.

2.) 07 Oct 2026
07 Oct 2026 20:16:19
I agree ajh. But that's his MO.

3.) 07 Oct 2026
07 Oct 2026 20:34:38
He's a virtual passenger outside the opponents penalty box. Against mediocre you can get away with it but not against good teams.

Yes he will score goals but at what cost to the team. Portugal are right to play without him. They have to build for the future.

4.) 07 Oct 2026
07 Oct 2026 20:35:02
I really don't care about Ronaldo. He was a great player and would rather have had him on my team than have him as an opponent, but, frankly, I never liked the guy. The way he left us after his second stint, with that interview, only confirmed my dislike of him.

5.) 07 Oct 2026
07 Oct 2026 21:42:41
I disagree Singh, his best days are long behind him, he should have taken a dignified exit but he is chasing personal records at the expense of the team. He is far from the best, he is in danger of seriously damaging his legacy.

6.) 07 Oct 2026
07 Oct 2026 22:24:42
He's Cristiano Ronaldo. Of course he's upset. That's exactly why he's one of the greatest athletes we've ever seen. The man has won everything there is to win, broken every record imaginable, and at 41 years old he still hates sitting on the bench. Most players would be satisfied, collecting the pay cheque and enjoying what they've already achieved. Ronaldo isn't built that way.

People can talk about his ability right now, but they're missing the point. Just a few years ago he was still among the best in the world. What has never changed is his mentality.

The hunger. The obsession to compete. The refusal to accept anything less than being on the pitch and making a difference.

That's why I actually rate him for being upset. At his age, with everything he's accomplished, he still cares that much. He still wants more. He still demands the highest standards from himself. That's not arrogance, that's the mentality that made him Ronaldo in the first place. Let him be upset. That fire and passion are exactly why he's one of the greatest to ever play the game.

7.) 07 Oct 2026
07 Oct 2026 22:32:37
Yes Singh, his desire to win at all costs was /is immense but he isn't the player he was and he should have matured by now to realise this and that he will spoil his own legacy by outbursts like this.

8.) 08 Oct 2026
07 Oct 2026 23:48:47
He was not the best. Not now and not some years ago. He is a liability, his pressing stats was at bottom 1% when he was in our team. There is a reason Juventous numbers went down the moment he joined and no wonder the same applied to us. Each team scored 16 less goals the moment Christiano joined and at the same time conceded more because they had to defend with a player less.

That's facts.
Its one thing how much Ronaldo scored and another how much the team scored WITH him. Teams regressed with him.

9.) 08 Oct 2026
08 Oct 2026 06:36:46
He is finished at the top level. Keane had a monster mentality too but one when his time was up as messi has also realised.
It is complete arrogance he is a player and not the manager when not selected uts for good reason. Anybody that thinks he is still the best has is living in the past. He is not the best anymore and watching him in the wc was a little sad for me.
Id compare it to a boxer who has had a few fights too many.


He was good he was great but that does not give you a right to play now not does it give you a right to undermine your manager.
If he is too period to sit on the bench stay at home. I doubt he will every play for portugal again nor will be playful for any to club again. He is yesterdays man and Will go down as the 2nd best player of his generation and probably in top 5 or 10 of all time which is no mean achievement.

10.) 08 Oct 2026
08 Oct 2026 07:21:24
Definitely 2nd best of his generation for me behind Messi, who was a comparable goal scorer but by far the better goal creator an all round team player.

11.) 08 Oct 2026
08 Oct 2026 09:47:51
He's been one of the greatest ever players, and he has the ego to match it. I've no problem with that, it goes with the territory, very few become one of the best in their field and don't end up with a bit of an ego. Personally I have a problem with those who have the ego but can't and have never been able to back it up.

Yet time waits for no man, we all either make it over the hill or we die beforehand. Decline is as inevitable as the tide.

What's the saying, the bigger you are the harder you fall. In Ronaldo's case his ego cannot cope with the fact that he isn't the player he used to be, even if he knows it, his ego just won't accept it.

Which unfortunately will always spill out in unsavoury comments and actions. In time he'll reflect back and have regrets no doubt.

For some how it ends will taint the memory, but in time most of us will forget how his career faded and only remember the highlights (of which there are so many).

12.) 08 Oct 2026
08 Oct 2026 13:52:22
I enjoy the discussion from both sides, however I do have an issue with AJH's initial post claiming dignity after how Benin were treated both prior to and after the match. Disgraceful! Had it been Cr7.

13.) 09 Oct 2026
09 Oct 2026 03:13:11
I seem to remember Messi throwing his toys out long before he won the world cup and retiring from international football. Ronaldo is obviously not the force he once was, and he should've accepted that a couple years ago, but he is hardly to blame for spineless managers choosing to start him over other forwards that offer more to the team as a whole.

14.) 09 Oct 2026
08 Oct 2026 23:24:22
He's a disgrace. Imagine making the national team all about him. Massive essay saying how unhappy he is with the manager, when Portugal won the game. Apologizing in his letter to the fans who traveled just to watch him.

He is a tool of the first order, and his legacy is getting further tainted every year. He was a major problem for them at the world cup. A manger who was not his mate would have offered him a retirement party friendly back in Portugal and then built the next generation for the next tournament.

Messi has proved in the past couple of years that he is the goat, and Ronaldo can't handle it.

15.) 09 Oct 2026
09 Oct 2026 04:29:07
Nah.

Messi is product pumped full of hormones to correct his midgetisis. It's a fact and is what it is.

Anything achieved by someone whom has had extensive external hormones is not the same as a normal human.

You have "natural" talent vs hard work. For me I will appreciate effort over talent, every day.

La Liga = Eredivise but in a different wrapper. Ronnie might be a massive bellend but he's proven his ability in 3 major leagues.

Both
Exceptional

No wrong answers to messi vs Ronnie argument.

16.) 09 Oct 2026
09 Oct 2026 10:42:26
Singh - take of your Man United red tinted glasses off. you are aware that he doesn't play for us anymore??
He's acting like a pathetic little baby, and it's totally embarassing.
I am pretty sure that the players and the manager of the Portuguese national team are sick and tired of his antics and just want him gone.


Yes he was a fantastic player for Portugal but for christ sake bow out with a bit of dignity, it's time to go.

17.) 09 Oct 2026
09 Oct 2026 11:37:44
Loll u guys r ronaldo haters just voz he aaid a few things about United and how we roll. Messi vs ronaldo your havin a laugh. Messis a cheat and took drugs to fix his body he's a bellend.

Yea ronaldoa past his best ufcourse he is but he doesn't deserve a bellend like jorge jesus tkin the piss. Also he's still beter then a lot of players around

18.) 10 Oct 2026
10 Oct 2026 01:04:12
Utd road, this is a little bit unfair for Messi to say that he didn't prove his worth. They were both at La Liga for ten years and Messi was heads and shoulders above. He is always is. Ronaldo could go in 5 countries to try and manipulate the debate Messi vs Ronaldo, but is it the case ; Is it so important if he proved his worth in Italy for example and Messi didn't;
I completely disagree about natural talent vs hard work too. In fact, i think Messi is equally trained. Ronaldo can barery move for the last at least 5 years, have you seen Messis sprints; Do you think it was easy for all his career to be the playmaker, the chance creator, the dribbler, flying throw opposition tacklings at the same time, and then sprinting to be the goalscorer also ; Because he was best in all of the above.

So do you think, doing all this without being a monster physically and not well trained ;
*I don't think Ronaldo is well trained, its not about modelling. You must have a body that suits your playing style. Ronaldo hadn't a lot of injuries, check. He was a monster in the air, check. But he lost explosiveness and agility too soon. that's one of the reason his dribbling stats went down so early in his career.