After the FIFA World Cup concluded its first round of group-stage matches, comparisons between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo once again gained momentum. Amid multiple debates and speculations, a major claim came from Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup winner said it is time for people to accept Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time following his hat-trick in Argentina's World Cup opener against Algeria.
Messi's performance in the fixture impressed spectators and football legends. One such admirer was Ronaldo Nazario, who was full of praise for the Argentine captain.
"It's time for the world to stop hiding and accept the fact that he is the best player of all time. He continues to deliver every season and in the World Cup and, yet, there are still doubts about him. It is an unforgettable and historic night that will remain forever in the history books," Ronaldo said.
Following Argentina's victory over Algeria, Messi insisted that "numbers don't mean anything." He made the remark after his record-breaking performance, which saw him surpass Cristiano Ronaldo and draw level with German football legend Miroslav Klose on the all-time FIFA World Cup goalscoring list, according to a report by Argentine news outlet La Nacion.
Messi added another achievement to his illustrious career with the hat-trick, most notably becoming the joint-highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. He moved past Ronaldo (15 goals), Germany's Gerd Muller, and France's Kylian Mbappe, who both had 14 goals. Notably, Mbappe had equalled Muller's tally earlier in the day with a brace during France's 3-1 victory over Senegal.
Despite the historic feat, Messi remained humble. He said he felt honoured by the achievement but stressed that records are not of great importance to him, describing them as merely statistics and noting that even great players such as Ronaldo are not always at the top of such lists.
"It's an honour. Mbappe and Ronaldo are there, but those numbers don't mean anything. They're just statistics. Ronaldo is one of the greatest and he's not in first place, so it's just one statistic," he said as quoted by Argentine newspaper La Nacion.
In the match, Messi scored from three different situations. His first goal was a powerful long-range strike in the 17th minute following a free-kick routine involving Argentina's Rodrigo De Paul. He netted his second from close range, capitalising on a rebound that fell inside the penalty area after a shot from Alexis Mac Allister. Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a composed curling finish after making a winding run into the box.
The Argentine star became emotional after scoring the first goal of his hat-trick against the underdogs. Explaining his reaction, Messi said it stemmed from a difficult period he had recently endured. "It was something unrelated to the game. I went through some difficult and complicated days. I'm grateful to the team and all my teammates. They were always by my side and gave me the strength to get through this," he said.
