When Lionel Messi hoisted his unprecedented eighth Ballon d'Or trophy in Paris, the football world erupted with both applause and skepticism. Among the skeptics was Messi's long-time on-field rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, and prominent Spanish journalist Tomas Roncero.
Messi's latest win comes on the back of Argentina's World Cup triumph in Qatar. However, for some, the award seemed to overlook individual performances throughout
the year, putting the spotlight on the collective success of the Argentinian team.
Erling Haaland's contribution to Manchester City's three major titles this season, including their maiden UEFA Champions League victory, made him a frontrunner in many people's eyes. The fact that Messi's former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Kylian Mbappe, was also in contention, complicated the debate.
In a video that caught the attention of many, Tomas Roncero questioned the validity of Messi's most recent accolade. "He went to retire in Miami... The World Cup was ten months ago, it's November," Roncero pointed out. He also implied that Messi's Ballon d'Or tally should have been capped at five, suggesting that other players, including Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Robert Lewandowski, and Haaland, deserved the award in the years Messi won.
Lewandowski, who had an outstanding 2020 season, was favored to win the award, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the accolade returned in 2021, Messi clinched it, overshadowing Lewandowski's achievements.
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who recently moved to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, didn't mince words - or rather, emojis. Responding to Roncero's video, he simply posted a series of laugh/cry emojis. While the digital expression might seem trivial, in the world of football, where Messi and Ronaldo's rivalry has been a decade-long centerpiece, it speaks volumes.
Ronaldo's subtle emoji jab elicited mixed reactions. Critics labeled his response as "childish," while others echoed Roncero's sentiments, dubbing Messi's victory a "robbery." For ardent Messi fans, this win solidifies the "Greatest of All Time" argument in his favor. However, Ronaldo's followers seized this opportunity to fuel the debate further.
In the end, while trophies and accolades might offer a tangible measure of a player's success, the debates and discussions they incite among fans, journalists, and fellow players underline the passion and love people globally have for the sport.
As the conversation continues to swirl, one thing is certain: both Messi and Ronaldo have left indelible marks on the game. Whether one agrees with the Ballon d'Or decisions or not, their legendary status remains undisputed.
