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The Intense Rivalry Between Ronaldo and Messi: Insights on the 2023 Ballon d’Or

By Arthur Fernandes

Inter Miami CF's Argentine forward Lionel Messi holds his trophy on stage as he receives his 8th Ballon d'Or award during the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Inter Miami CF's Argentine forward Lionel Messi holds his trophy on stage as he receives his 8th Ballon d'Or award during the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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The recent 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris not only celebrated the extraordinary feats of global soccer stars but also reignited the fierce rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi’s triumph in the competition sparked a wave of fervent debates, with critics and enthusiasts engaging in a heated discourse about who truly deserved the coveted title of the world’s best player.

However, the waters became even more turbulent with the startling commentary from renowned Spanish journalist Tomas Roncero, questioning the validity of Messi’s eighth win. In his provocative analysis, Roncero suggested that other players like Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski deserved more consideration for the award, hinting that Messi was unduly favored.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s unexpected endorsement of these remarks, revealed through emojis in an Instagram post, added fuel to the already blazing fire of the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry. This raised intriguing questions about the complicated relationship between the two soccer icons, whether there is indeed genuine mutual respect or if the fierce competition between them persists even off the field.

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Inter Miami CF’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) reacts next to his trophy on stage as he receives his 8th Ballon d’Or award next to Former English football player and Inter Miami’s co-owner David Beckham during the 2023 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Inter Miami CF’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi (L) reacts next to his trophy on stage as he receives his 8th Ballon d’Or award next to Former English football player and Inter Miami’s co-owner David Beckham during the 2023 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Meanwhile, Ronaldinho’s recent words, defending his positive influence on Messi since the Argentine’s youth days in the Barcelona youth academy, resonate as a fierce defense against previous accusations that he had been a bad influence on the prodigy.

However, amid the tensions and heated disputes, the opinions of French coach Didier Deschamps on Messi’s status as the greatest of all time add a new nuance to the narrative. By mentioning names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe as equally deserving contenders for the greatest player title, Deschamps puts into perspective the breadth of excellence in the world of soccer.

While fans continue to debate fiercely over who reigns supreme in the world of soccer, one thing is certain: the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo transcends the sports sphere, captivating and inspiring a legion of fans worldwide and ensuring that their saga is recorded in the history of the sport as one of the most thrilling and heated of all time.

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