r/sportsgossips • u/Outside-Weakness9660 • Jun 18 '26
Video The reason why Ronaldo isn’t winning with Portugal But Messi is winning with Argentina is found in this video.
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u/Gharms_ Jun 18 '26
Argentine national team will die for Messi, Portugal seems to despise Ronaldo.
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u/djryce Jun 18 '26
After the Arg-Alg game, I started rewatching some clips from the Copa America in 2024.
Messi injured his foot, and had to be pulled out of the game, and was visibly devastated on the sidelines because there were talks that may have been his last game on the national time (haha).
All I remember was how Paredes and some of the other late subs got off the bench and played like a men possessed to win. In interviews, he said he locked in because he couldn't stand to see Leo crying. They love and respect him so much.
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u/acidwxlf Jun 18 '26
Watching their body language even is just so telling. Messi is an obvious playmaker, making passes, assists, or even just maneuvering to make space for the team. He rarely looks pressed, and when he's scoring it looks so level headed. Meanwhile Ronaldo is constantly rushing shots, taking bad chances, doing nothing to open up the box, and just looks clearly bothered. He is statistically great but it's staggering how much more of a leader and presence Messi is
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u/jadoregon Jun 18 '26
The animosity of his teammates is so apparent that the opposing team doesn’t have to bother marking up Ronaldo because he’s not going to get the ball. Opponents are playing a man up with 11:11 on the pitch.
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u/Tiyath Jun 19 '26
Imagine being hated so much that your teammates would rather throw the world cup than see you progress.
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u/StagTagRag Jun 19 '26
They tried many times to get him the ball while he just stood in front of the goal the entire game. The times where they did get the ball to him on target, he missed.
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u/Tomignone Jun 19 '26
I agree about him just standing in front of the goal, he didn’t do enough to create better opportunities to receive a good shot on goal, that being said, that absolutely did NOT get the ball to him, they passed back and forth around the perimeter and hardly tried at least from my perspective. They had no balls last game, hopefully they talk it over and come out with a better attitude next game.
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u/BumbleTheBeadle Jun 18 '26
Messi is the all-time assist leader in international play since the statistic was tracked. I can't imagine that Ronaldo is even close.
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u/SocraticIndifference Jun 18 '26
I believe it’s 60 to 37 in international play, depending on how you count it. So yeah, Messi by a fair margin.
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u/Tuko305 Jun 18 '26
In his defense in this clip he was clearly opened Everytime he pointed at his feet
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u/kai-ol Jun 18 '26
Then why isn't he just always pointing at his feet? Is he stupid?
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u/aonemonkey Jun 19 '26
Messi plays with a smile on his face. He loves the game. Ronaldo plays with a disgusted look on his face, hes never happy. Im not sure ive ever seen him enjoy playing, only scoring or winning
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u/-6h0st- Jun 19 '26
You hit the nail on the head.
Messi is the ultimate playmaker, he dribbles, he creates space, he assists, he can also finish from any position. Ronaldo is obsessed with him being the best, his records, his performances more than the team he’s playing for. Thats why the choice between those two is so polarising. To be fair Ronaldo wouldn’t be Ronaldo if he wasn’t the way he is. You need to be a full package playmaker like Messi to do it otherwise.
Most strikers are more like Ronaldo, it’s not unusual. When you think about it, it perfectly makes sense. Another great example - Lewandowski - he would not score so many goals if he wasn’t obsessed with own performance. That’s why at Bayern he was branded selfish, and why at Barca he was a bit marginalised by some, because some disliked him getting all the glory, when they need to do all the work.5
u/Spankety-wank Jun 18 '26
I've actually got chills reading that.
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u/ccuster911 Jun 18 '26
Messi makes everyone around him better. Ronaldo doesnt. Ronaldo is an all time great but the team NEEDS to play around him(from his POV). The team WANTS to play around Messi.
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u/LilliJay Jun 18 '26
Portuguese person here. Absolutely not true. There is an airport named after him. We know he is an arrogant brat but despise, never.
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u/compbuildthrowaway Jun 18 '26
They mean the Portuguese team, not random Portuguese people.
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u/CUCUC Jun 18 '26
that’s LilliJay, he is actually the third starter replacement. He is not some “random Portuguese person.”
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u/JoesGarage2112 Jun 18 '26
I’d like to see more narrative as I’m a casual viewer from the US. In another post I saw some stats related to Ronaldo not passing or making a lot of threats while he had the ball. This video insinuates that he’s not doing well because of teammates.
Which is it?
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u/ragnar-brauner Jun 18 '26
Both
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Jun 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Yet_Another_JoeBob Jun 18 '26
Hold on, I’ve seen that episode of Ted Lasso
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u/didy115 Jun 18 '26
Is that you, Jamie!?!?!?
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u/EmptyPagesDream Jun 18 '26
Season 1 Jamie is definitely Ronaldo. His character inspirations change based on the haircut
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u/ZooKeyKneeFN Jun 18 '26
I loved watching him in his prime, but his playstyle requires his freak athleticism and strength. He’s gotten lazy/old and just sits in the box waiting for his teammates to feed him like that one dude said
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u/N00dles_Pt Jun 18 '26
I wouldn't say lazy...he's still in incredible shape for a 41 year old....but...he's still 41....his ego doesn't allow him to see that.
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u/CountyKyndrid Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
This is basically just a shitpost trying to make people hate Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno set the record for most assists in a Premier league campaign this year, he carried Manchester United on his back to an incredible 3rd place finish.
Bruno is by far the better free kick taker over Ronaldo, who is notorious for refusing to allow his teammates to take them then skying them.
Please don't get any of your footballing analysis from memes or clips, if you really want to know more theres incredible free journalism out there you can access basically anywhere, I like the Athletic personally. (Their YouTube content is free as is their WC coverage I believe)
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u/Adi_San Jun 18 '26
Do you think having Ronaldo on the team does more damage than good?
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u/CountyKyndrid Jun 18 '26
I grew up watching him make magic for my team, but yes absolutely.
The team and Portugese FA is catering to the ego of a 40 year old man rather than trying to properly achieve sporting success. I think it's sad that so many incredible Portugese players are being held back when they have a genuine golden generation that is not getting any younger.
I am a huge Bruno fan, but he's not at all the only player I'm talking about, Portugal is filled with talent and I feel like Martinez is squandering them just like he did Belgium.
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u/rmhardcore Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
This.
He and his wife actually launched a smear campaign the last time he was not included in the squad.
He doesn't make cutting runs.
He doesn't have the speed he used to.
He can't create like Messi does.
He doesn't have close ball control anymore.
He's blinded by 1000 goals.
Also, he was my favorite player in the world in Manchester United and Real Madrid days, though that began waining when I watched him towards the end of his career at RM. The match where he wouldn't congratulate Bale and Ramos for winning champs league because he didn't get to score and be the hero was it for me. Prior to that, I had his jerseys and followed him meticulously. When he came back to us at United I was borderline excited, but the problems he caused and the way he left were.....troubling. probably necessary in retrospect, but the way he personally handled the break was unforgivable.
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u/AnObtuseOctopus Jun 18 '26
Yeah..
Listen, Ronaldo isn't the same as he used to be.
I was a massive ranaldo fan, for so long.. but, he's losing it.. imo he's been losing it since he focused more on being an underwear model for that little stint.
He was always arrogant, but, atleast he could play. His ball control used to be top notch. His tenacity in plays and absolutely steamrolling through a team, alone, was fun AF to watch. But, as time went on, that lost its luster.. he was very selfish.
Now, you watch him fly balls, have insane misses, not being able to drive the ball up the field like he used to. But, he still has the mindset of "our play is pass to Ronaldo", which used to work.. I just don't think it does anymore. Ronaldo is now getting mad that he isnt being made a playmaker. Everyone isn't passing to him anymore because they feel they can do it better and sometimes they can.
That said.. even if you replace Ronaldo with someone else and watch this.. these are terrible choices by players who want their moment in the spotlight, their highlight reel, over a goal made by someone else.
I mean, he was open, so god damn open.. when you have 3 on and an uncovered man, wiiiide open, who is atleast known for making incredible shots in his past.. why the hell wouldn't you pass the ball?
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u/Mr_Pink_Gold Jun 18 '26
He is 41. If he was put in the field for 30 mins or so. Fine. Him doing 90 mins? Bullshit. He cannot sustain it. He doesn't have the stamina anymore. Problem for Portugal is that he is probably worth more than the entire Portuguese Football ruling body.
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u/Zappastuski Jun 18 '26
The Athletic ain’t free bub
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u/CountyKyndrid Jun 18 '26
Their world cup coverage is, as is all of their YouTube content, bub (lol)
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u/cosmo_K Jun 18 '26
It probably used to be a little bit of column A and a little bit of column B. Now though, it just has to do with Cristiano Ronaldo being absolutely washed. He's 41 and just bad. Realistically, he shouldn't be anywhere near a World Cup squad let alone starting games if Portugal are to be taken seriously.
Portugal are basically playing with 10 men when he's on the pitch. He doesn't have any sort of influence on games anymore. He doesn't drop deep to combine with the players around him, he doesn't run in behind to stretch the opposition, he doesn't make runs to drag defenders around and create space for his teammates, he doesn't press, he doesn't close down defenders, he doesn't track back, he doesn't win his duels, he doesn't win his headers, he can't beat his man, he can't outrun anyone anymore, he is caught out of position constantly, he wanders around in an offside position for large parts of the game, he even ruins attacks because it's more important to him that he scores than that the team does. And he is not even a good finisher anymore which was the one thing you could argue he had over other Portuguese forwards.
This video tries to paint a picture that everyone is at fault for Ronaldo being bad. That is not the case. Ronaldo is just washed.
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u/addiktion Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
Man the difference between him and Messi are night and day while watching these world cup tournaments. Now I know Messi is 38 so he's not 41, but hell they are both dinosaurs really. While Messi isn't perfect at many of the things you stated, he always finds an opening and it does seem like his team play to his strengths really well at executing kicks and plays even in tight gaps. I especially like watching Messi set his team up with passes in a moments notice so it isn't even just the fact he is the one scoring a lot of these goals because he's just on point a lot for himself and team.
I imagine there is a lack of team synergy a little with Ronaldo combined with what you stated which is probably the bigger problem since he fails to execute in so many situations so why would his team trust that he will get the job done.
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u/LettucePlate Jun 18 '26
Messi actually still has a first touch and a world class pass, which typically doesn't go away with age. Ronaldo made his career on pace, power, quick moves with dribbling, and a good enough efficiency in front of goal to aggregate a ton of converted chances. Now it seems like all of those have left him. He's not the creative, techy type of player. Like he *can* do that, but those aren't his superhuman strengths, so now he just looks like an average
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u/Pulp_NonFiction44 Jun 18 '26
That's only half the truth. Ronaldo completely reinvented himself in his late 20s after his knees got fucked up. He went on to have the most productive seasons of his career based on his positioning, timing and reading of the game more than his physical attributes (although they still helped).
He is undeniably past it now, he's declined so much physically that these attributes can't make up the gap. However it is incorrect to say he made his career on physicality.
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u/Representative_Egg61 Jun 18 '26
"he wanders around in an offside position for large parts of the game" --> I take issue with this. If you watch his goal against germany in 2025, he actually stays in an offside position, which causes defenders to ignore him, and then makes a run before mendes can then pass him the ball and he can score. Ronaldo isn't in an offside positions in these games because he doesn't know what he's doing. He is doing it on purpose, but because he times his runs perfectly, he can remain onsides and score. I don't disagree with this analysis, but it's silly to assume that Ronaldo isn't a clinical finisher or contributes nothing to the team at all.
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u/okie_hiker Jun 18 '26
Most of this isn’t even Portugal. This is a circle jerk post if I’ve ever seen one
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u/Tiyath Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
Yeah some of that footage is from CL matches in his twenties. Lol
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u/CheeseMongerMelvin Jun 18 '26
Half the footage from the video is from club soccer, and from several years ago at that.
This video is HEAVILY edited to craft the narrative that Ronaldo's teammates don't pass to him or let him "do his thing" when in reality, Ronaldo is just old AF and needs to retire already. He's far past his prime, and was so in most of the clips from the video as well.
Not to mention, the man's free kick taking has been horrendous for years. He misses significantly more free kicks than he scores, so his teammates taking the opportunity from him is honestly doing the team a favor...
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Jun 18 '26
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u/DrOz30 Jun 18 '26
100% he’s better than that, he should know better. I admire him profoundly, his work ethic is legendary but he’s doing his legacy a disfavor here by playing like this below his standard. His greed and ego have clouded his vision , he doesn’t play for Portugal he plays for him
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u/Nagisa201 Jun 18 '26
How is there confusion on the free kicks? I'm so confused
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u/sirZofSwagger Jun 18 '26
The only confusion is Cristiano thinks hes gonna take them
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u/Tiyath Jun 18 '26
Either coach has a plan for free kicks or the players decide based on position and skill with that foot and whether it should be a cross or a shot. Ronaldo just always wants it from any and every position
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u/64_Pixels Jun 18 '26
There is a much much much longer video of Portugal constantly gift wrapping tap ins for Ronaldo and he misses them all. He's a waste of a perfect play.
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u/WhatTheHeHay Jun 18 '26
Please link if you can
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u/64_Pixels Jun 18 '26
Here is a recent one,
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hAU9eJj8Spw
Remember the Saudi league is just a joke league and he can't even tap in a routine clear cut break away.
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u/64_Pixels Jun 18 '26
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/quRM8NH9scs here is another gift.
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u/64_Pixels Jun 18 '26
more receipts https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yJ7cbaFgz4I
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u/64_Pixels Jun 18 '26
more you say? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jDVHW5UKNHk
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u/64_Pixels Jun 18 '26
Someone made a compilation of his Euro 2024 misses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGe2YNmDl0Y&pp=ygUMcm9uYWxkbyBtaXNz
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u/64_Pixels Jun 18 '26
Finally here is another compilation of his failures in the current joke league he's playing in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o1j1hM-t4A
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u/generic_canadian_dad Jun 19 '26
When you are of the best ever and have played this long you can make a video cherry picking clips to show whatever narrative you want. Only the simple minded fall for this garbage. Here's 100 CR7 goals in 20 mins.
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u/64_Pixels Jun 19 '26
Buddy you just posted a video of Ronaldo on Real Madrid and Manchester. You're the one cherrypicking. There is NO DOUBT Ronaldo was one of the greats during that time. Most of the video you showed wasn't even HD because cameras weren't that good back then. You didn't make the point you think you made. Only a simple minded person would think that....No one is arguing Ronaldo's greatness. We are stating those CR7 days are long gone and OVER. Cope harder simple one!
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u/Apprehensive_Use3641 Jun 18 '26
Ronaldo shouldn't be playing in the tournament, he should be sitting out his red card from the Ireland match.
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u/frubano21 Jun 18 '26
Oh shit what happened in the Ireland match?
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u/PskRaider869 Jun 18 '26
He hit Dara O'Shea with an elbow. It was initally called yellow then upgraded after VAR. Ronaldo was then suspended for their final qualifying game since that was the penultimate game of their qualifying group.
Not going to defend Ronaldo there cause thats obviously a red card. But the person you're responding to doesn't know what they're talking about. He served his suspension. There is no reason he shouldn't be allowed at the tournament....he just shouldn't be there because of the fact he doesn't have what made him truly great anymore.
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u/Semperty Jun 18 '26
Why? Because Fifa decided to suspend for one year the final two matches of his suspension.
Under Fifa's disciplinary code for violent conduct, Ronaldo should have received a three-match ban for elbowing Dara O'Shea during Portugal's 2-0 qualifying defeat earlier this month.
Yet Fifa's disciplinary committee said it took into account that he had not received a red card in his other 225 international appearances.
He served one match in the final qualifier against Armenia. The other two will only be activated if he "commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period".
he - in fact - did not serve his suspension. fifa changed the rules so that the most followed person on social media would be able to participate in their money making event.
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u/PskRaider869 Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
I see your point here, but FIFA has only suspended players from participating in a World Cup in the past due to doping, match-fixing, or criminality. Having international suspensions delayed until after the Cup or even pushed off under contengency of fair play is not unique to Ronaldo
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u/getikule Jun 18 '26
Nobody said he should be suspended from participating in the tournament. But the rules say he should have been suspended for 3 matches, so he should have missed the first two matches. No other player has had his suspension suspended (not delayed, he won't serve the other two matches after the WC, they will be reinstated if he receives another straight red inside his probation period).
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u/Lord_Dingus83 Jun 18 '26
He needs to start on the bench.
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u/damscomp Jun 18 '26
Still a starter…just a different position.
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u/Lord_Dingus83 Jun 18 '26
Lol my bad man - I totally misunderstood your comment.
Takes me a minute lol
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u/Thin-Remote-9817 Jun 18 '26
As a soccer causal and know nothing
Watching Messi play made me want to watch the game more and actually got me excited..wow a superstar can take over this game like that ok im sold
Watching Ronaldo play was a reminder that goddamn this is kinda boring when a superstar caliber player is just being passive and forcing awful shots yeah ima just watch baseball
It kinda makes sense why my generation was meh about soccer and the kids today are ape shit over it
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u/xSir- Jun 18 '26
There have always been amazing players. Even during your generation.
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u/Sufficient-Nose481 Jun 18 '26
Damn when a baseball fan finds it boring u KNOW its boring 😂
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u/Thin-Remote-9817 Jun 18 '26
I grew up playing baseball to be fair... But your point remains valid
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u/PointGodAsh Jun 18 '26
Yeah, wild times. I’m also a soccer casual and think even tied games are often more exciting than an average baseball game. Of course we all have different opinions and that’s fine!
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u/new_number_one Jun 18 '26
My dad finds soccer boring but watches golf. So, yeah, opinions vary.
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u/cynical_genx_man Jun 18 '26
Um, I'm probably your generation and I personally can't stand baseball but love soccer.
Your overgeneralization just makes you appear ignorant and bitter.
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u/wylie102 Jun 18 '26
What is your generation? Because Messi is very much not a “kids today” player. He’s basically Tom Brady in his last few seasons if instead of going to play for the Bucs he took a load of money to go and play in the XFL. Still great, but not really relevant to competitive football (outside of the World Cup).
He’s 39, so people who are his age or 15 years younger grew up watching him in his prime. Kids today aren’t watching him play because no one watches the American leagues.
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u/kaam00s Jun 18 '26
Your comment doesn't make sense since Messi and Ronaldo are both from the same generation. I don't get it.
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u/Alarmed_Station6185 Jun 18 '26
You just know the rest of the team cant wait until he retires. His body language is so terrible he cant be nice to be around
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u/notanyimbecile Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
Maybe it's because he's always blaming others and crying like a princess while Messi is taking control, shutting up and scoring goals.
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u/Panem-et-circenses25 Jun 18 '26
This is correct. One of them is a team player with humility, maturity and class, and the other is Rapenaldo.
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u/oranke_dino Jun 18 '26
I love how he gets his tantrums like every 8 years old kid : )
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u/Binksyboo Jun 18 '26
This article in Der Spiegel makes it pretty clear he raped her by not stopping when she said no, he paid her to keep quiet and his lawyers covered it up further.
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u/Round-Claim5420 Jun 18 '26
reeeeeee I'm a Ronaldo fan and he wasn't convicted by a jury 🤡
well he admitted to his lawyers that he had sex with Kathryn Mayorga against her express will.....
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u/PneumaticFerret Jun 18 '26
He’s been a selfish jerk for most of his career - it’s nothing new and only getting worse as he’s coming towards the end which he’s not going to take well.
He’s the Simon Cowell of football.
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u/Popiblockhead Jun 18 '26
One thing is for certain. No matter how much these guys may resent him, they will never even smell the amount of success and talent he possesses.
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u/Speshjunior Jun 18 '26
Do you mean when he had three shots and didn’t get any on target and didn’t nothing else all game but stand there?
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u/jr_randolph Jun 18 '26
I am your average American viewer when it comes to soccer and will watch during these type of times. With that said, I know for damn sure they are doing that to him on purpose lol I've seen players just kick it back and forth with each other and always hit those crossing passes and to see them not hitting him on those shows they don't want him involved.
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u/3s2ng Jun 18 '26
This is just sad. It is so obvious all his teammates dont want him to be there and based on his performance, it looks like he is trying so hard to prove something by going hero ball.
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u/Gysburne Jun 18 '26
Not a football enthusiast. But... i think they don't like Ronaldo.
There should be more passes, what i see is selfish players on the field, not a team of players.
I could imagine atleast one of the reasons is the personality of certain players, the ego standing in the way.
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u/Extra_Glass_678 Jun 18 '26
Seems like they hate this dude guts! That’s why Messi is the greatest and this dude had to take Saudi money. Soccer is more than just being great, you have to work as a team. What a whiner too, every time he called his team out on the field.
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u/Sufficient_Prompt888 Jun 18 '26
I don't get why this is even a topic. Portugal and CR7 have never really performed all that well at World Cups.
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u/TheDixonCider420420 Jun 18 '26
No, here's why they don't win... because Ronaldo cares more about his own scoring legacy than he does the team... even the ex-star commentators at the World Cup agreed with this gist on multiple occasions:
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u/LettucePlate Jun 18 '26
He'd score so many more goals if he actually integrated his teammates, played as a decoy, and let the good set piece takers take set pieces. If Portugal smashed every team 6-0 like they're talented enough to do he would just naturally get a goal or two every game. But they play this stupid fucking style where they force everything through him even though hes double teamed at all points in the game and his first touch is a trampoline.
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u/mtutty Jun 18 '26
Apparently, as little as two selfish pricks is too many selfish pricks on a team.
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u/Coltonmykaelj Jun 18 '26
Portugal was the only team in the group I was worried about as a fan of Colombia. Now I have no fears
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u/Dizzy-Career9274 Jun 18 '26
Judging just by their perceived personality on the field, Ronaldo seems insufferable diva. No wonder his teammates don’t seem to like him.
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u/No-Distribution2043 Jun 18 '26
Karma.. Ronaldo (especially when he was younger) was a real pissy and selfish. Now it has come full circle.
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u/toaster-struble Jun 18 '26
I get he has bad attitude sometimes but his teammates clearly should have passed to him on all those posessions. Kinda feel "bad" for him. The freekick drama is fine. He takes so many it's normal for other stars to want their shot.
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u/espoletanogo Jun 18 '26
Never thought in a million years I would feel the smallest amount of
"Oh thats f-ed up" towards Ronaldo. But here we are
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u/lenny_reid Jun 18 '26
having had the privilege of being a football fan from the beginning of both of their careers, the difference has always been attitude.
they are both generational talents but Messi will always end up on top and its a valuable lesson to kids and the attitude they show on the pitch.
its always been clear that in his prime, Portugal teammates were afraid of Ronaldo, and that has calcified into what you see on the pitch now. they are tired that no manager can just tell this 40 year old guy playing in the Saudi league that he can't be the focal point of a cup winning team at the highest level anymore. more importantly, Ronaldo cannot accept it. he is dramatic and petulant, and unfortunately very powerful within that setup. toxic as hell.
they have similar skills and records but Messi is just NOT those things described above. that is huge swing in his favour when compared with Ronaldo.
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u/tipareth1978 Jun 18 '26
Portugal has some really selfish players, it's true. Somehow they still manage to eke out a knockout or two but it really has to catch up at some point
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u/Platypoltikolti Jun 18 '26
When your ego is gigantic, you have to be really good for people to tolerate you
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u/Jmcrash98 Jun 18 '26
Lmao men have such egos and unwilling to do what it takes to win in life, but whatever makes yall feel good inside 😂
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u/Outofmana1 Jun 18 '26
That's what happens when you chase the money and go to play for Qatar/Saudi league. Your national team hates you.
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u/Advanced_Zucchini_45 Jun 18 '26
I don't think they like him