Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, nicknamed CR7, was born on 5th February 1985 while Lionel Andres Messi was born 24th June 1987. Their legend status in football can never be in doubt as they have given football so much beautiful memories and have also divided the opinions of football fans about who is better between them, so much so that you are either a CR7 fan or a Messi fan.
This is the first era in football that two great players will go shoulder to shoulder in personal record chasing cheered on by their fans. When one breaks a record or achieves a feat the pressure on the other one becomes palpable until he does the same. It has been a back and forth affair in record breaking for both of them and their fans have "enjoyed" every bit of it. They have also been at " verbal war" trying to validate their favourites (either of the players) as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).
This piece is not to settle the GOAT debate, far from it, (none of them is my GOAT) but to attempt to sing the praises of these players. It is rare for outfield players to remain relevant and prolific after 36 but these two phenonmenons have defied that notion. It befuddles the mind how these guys have kept going past the average football retirement age. They have not just kept going but they have kept going breaking the records of the legends of previous eras.
Let me limit their record breaking feats to the on-going FIFA World Cup jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the USA. Messi broke the all-time FIFA World Cup highest goalscorer record held by Miroslav Klose (16 goals) of Germany. Messi is now on 19 goals (still counting). CR7 has the record of scoring in 6 consecutive world cup tournaments- 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. He is also the oldest player to score a brace at the world cup. (Please note that the oldest player to score at the world cup still remains Cameroon's Roger Milla, who was 42 years, 39 days).
I am very persuaded that Messi and Ronaldo's longevity on the pitch is influenced by the desire of both parties to outperform each other. This bodes well and it is pushing them to great heights. Prior to this World Cup one would have thought only CR7 still had something to prove, as regards winning the tournament, but Messi would not be stopped in his desire to break and rebreak records.
I have refrained in joining the debate on which player is better than the other for two reasons. I see it as a waste of time and words. None of the camps will agree that their man is not better. The second reason is the manner in which the fans of Ronaldo disdain Messi and whatever he represents and vice versa. I feel it is a disservice to the beautiful game that we love so much. May be, it has helped to push both players to the height they are now but i cannot fathom why a football fan will love one and talk down on the other knowing fully well that none of them can deny the prodigious talents of both players.
I am first of all a football lover and the beautiful game takes precedence over hate. Hence let's thank both players for giving us so many happy moments instead and making the game as beautiful as it can be.
Nontheless, my personal award for the GOAT goes to (and will remain) Edson Arantes dos Nascimento, popularly known as PELÈ.
Shalom.
Jogofully yours.
Rotimi Oladipo
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