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Two adjacent transparent bins in London became the venue for a silent but heated debate in 2015, with smokers depositing their stubbed-out butts to settle a burning question: who was the best soccer player in the world, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
As a way to encourage people to use bins for their butts, the biggest career rivalry in 21st-century soccer proved to be an effective conduit.
A decade on, however, the debate still rages as the duo head towards becoming the first men to appear in six World Cups. Ronaldo and Messi have each scored more than 800 goals for club and country, winning nine Champions Leagues and 13 Ballon d’Or trophies between them.
Messi’s fans argue that his World Cup triumph for Argentina in 2022 puts him top of the pile but Ronaldo-worshipers cite his titles across Europe’s major leagues, a tally of 954 goals, including 143 for his country, and being the most-capped male international footballer with 226 appearances for Portugal.
Next year’s tournament in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, when Ronaldo will be 41 and Messi turns 39, will surely be their last.
WORLD CUP 2006
Ronaldo was 21 and Messi almost 19 when they became their countries’ youngest World Cup goalscorers when they debuted in the tournament in Germany.
Messi did not play in the quarter-finals, where Argentina were beaten by the hosts on penalties. The next day, Ronaldo scored the decisive penalty in a shootout with England, before facing heartbreak in the semi-finals, where Portugal lost to France.
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WORLD CUP 2010
Ronaldo, the Portugal captain, scored only one goal in South Africa before Portugal lost to champions Spain in the last 16. Messi, who failed to score in the tournament as Argentina were ousted by Germany for the second straight time, faced heavy criticism back home, with fans accusing him of caring less about his country than his club Barcelona.
WORLD CUP 2014
Portugal had a forgettable campaign as Ronaldo, who was risking his career playing with a knee injury, scored only once as they were eliminated in the group stage.
Messi, now his country’s captain, came into his own, however, scoring in every group game and winning four straight player-of-the-match awards.
Argentina, however, lost the final to Germany. A tearful Messi’s Golden Ball trophy was no consolation.
In the next two years, Argentina lost the finals of the Copa America and the Copa America Centenario, both to Chile on penalties. A heartbroken Messi announced his retirement from international football, but reversed his decision later.
