Lionel Messi's dazzling World Cup hat-trick has once again reignited football's greatest debate after Brazilian legend Ronaldo publicly declared the Argentine captain the greatest player of all time.
Following Argentina's emphatic 3-0 victory over Algeria in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener, the 2002 World Cup winner said the world should finally stop questioning Messi's legacy.
The statement has added fresh fuel to the long-running Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry, especially with both stars still competing on football's biggest stage.
The Brazilian icon said there should be no hesitation in recognising Messi's place at the top of football history. (X/@_3emeOeil) Ronaldo crowns Messi as football's greatest ever
Messi delivered a vintage performance, scoring all three goals in Argentina's opening World Cup match.
His display earned praise from across the football world, but Ronaldo's comments stood out.
NDTV mentioned that the Brazilian icon said there should be no hesitation in recognising Messi's place at the top of football history.
He praised Messi's consistency over the years, saying the Argentine continues to perform at the highest level every season while delivering on the biggest occasions.
Ronaldo described the night as historic and one that would remain part of World Cup folklore.
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Messi overtakes Cristiano Ronaldo in World Cup goals
The hat-trick also carried significant statistical value.
Messi moved past Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup tally of 15 goals and drew level with Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time scoring charts.
He also surpassed legendary names such as Gerd Muller and Kylian Mbappe.
Despite the milestone, Messi remained modest and refused to place too much importance on records.
The Argentine captain said numbers were merely statistics and pointed out that even football icons like Cristiano Ronaldo are not always at the top of every list.
Messi added that Ronaldo remains one of the greatest players in football history.
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Emotional Messi opens up after a difficult period
One of the most striking moments came after Messi scored his opening goal, with cameras capturing him in tears.
Later, he explained that the emotions were linked to difficult personal moments he had experienced recently.
Messi thanked his teammates for supporting him through challenging times and helping him regain confidence.
On the field, his performance was a masterclass. He opened the scoring with a long-range strike, added a poacher's finish from inside the box and completed his hat-trick with a trademark curling effort after a mesmerising run.
