Lionel Messi has once again demonstrated his quick wit and remarkable composure — this time, not on the pitch but in front of the microphone. The Argentine maestro, now in the twilight of his illustrious career, caused a stir when he surprisingly omitted his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo from a list of players he considered to be the best in the world after himself. What followed, however, was a masterstroke of diplomacy and humour that left both fans and interviewers applauding his cleverness.
During a recent interview, the 38-year-old World Cup-winning captain was asked,
“Who is the best footballer in the world apart from Messi? You can’t pick yourself.”
Messi paused for a moment, then smiled before listing a few names. “It’s difficult to say because there are so many talented players,” he said. “But in my opinion, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Eden Hazard, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Agüero — all of them are capable of being the best.”
The interviewer and fans alike were quick to notice that Cristiano Ronaldo’s name was missing from that list. The curiosity in the room was almost palpable. One of the interviewers pressed further, saying,
“You’ve mentioned some fantastic players, but aren’t you forgetting someone? He wears the number seven — ring any bells?”
Messi, with a knowing grin, delivered what many are calling his most elegant off-field move yet.
“Cristiano?” he replied. “I took him off the list because he’s in my category.”
That simple line reignited admiration and respect for the Argentine’s sense of occasion — blending humility with acknowledgment of his fiercest rival.
The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry is one of the most iconic duels in sporting history. Since Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid in 2009, their battles in El Clásico became the stuff of legend — two generational talents defining an era through brilliance, goals, and endless comparisons. Over the next decade, the duo dominated the global stage, sharing 12 Ballon d’Ors between them and rewriting record books in both club and international football.
Though they now ply their trade in different corners of the world — Ronaldo at Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and Messi at Inter Miami in the MLS — their mutual respect remains intact. For fans, the eternal debate over “who is the greatest” continues to divide opinion, but Messi’s latest words may have given that rivalry a touch of poetic grace: two icons, forever side by side at the summit of football history.