In 2022, out of seven goals, Messi scored five in the knockout matches
Aged 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is all set to represent Portugal for the sixth time in
the World Cup, hoping this time he gets to touch the trophy. Ronaldo seems to be hungrier than ever because when Lionel Messi won the title in 2022, it shifted the GOAT debate in his favour. In short, Ronaldo has fallen back and is probably trying his last shot at the ultimate glory.
However, in our book of thoughts, winning the title won’t be enough for Ronaldo to settle the GOAT debate – here’s why.
Goals that matter
Five goal thriller in the FIFA WORLD CUP 2022. Portugal VS Ghana with Ronaldo making history pic.twitter.com/s6ZRkrsTLQ
— Light of the world (@iam_midal) June 4, 2026
In 2022, Ronaldo managed only one goal in five matches. His only goal was against Ghana in the opening game. In the remaining matches, he neither scored a goal nor provided an assist to his teammates. Despite his poor performance, the team advanced to the quarter-final, where Morocco, a team ranked far below Portugal, defeated them. Therefore, it is imperative that Ronaldo scores goals in every game in the upcoming campaign, especially in the knockout stages if the team reaches that far.
A dominating run
ON THIS DAY IN 2016:
Cristiano Ronaldo scored an INCREDIBLE header and gave an assist to Nani in the Semi Finals of Euro vs Wales and led Portugal to the Final.
He was also the named the Man of the Match. 👏
pic.twitter.com/q6WrGX0a4R— The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7) July 6, 2023
Ronaldo and Portugal need to register a dominant victory. For instance, in 2016, despite winning the Euro, Ronaldo and his nation faced brutal trolling due to his lack of convincing performance. Many highlighted the team’s limp performance in the group stage, where it drew all three matches and earned only three points.
Ronaldo scored only three goals throughout the tournament, including two against Hungary that helped Portugal secure a draw and advance to the R16. In the semi-final, Ronaldo scored one goal against Wales, and in the final, he was subbed off in the 25th minute due to a knee injury.
A win is a win, but that doesn’t change how people form their perceptions of a player and his team.
Better overall performance
Messi 🇦🇷 vs Ronaldo 🇵🇹 in the World Cup.
Two legends of the game, but who can bring the trophy home this year?
⚽️🏆 pic.twitter.com/L9Sezo0CTI— The World Cup Insider (@TheTeeBoi) June 5, 2026
Overall, Ronaldo needs to do a whole lot better if he wishes to narrow the gap between his and Messi’s stats in the World Cup since 2006. Messi has 13 goals and eight assists, whereas Ronaldo has eight goals and two assists to his name. Messi also has five knockout goals, where Ronaldo has none.
Messi put up this performance against France in a World Cup final and haters call it rigged 😂 pic.twitter.com/jgrfYSFdZF
— R (@FCBRodney) June 4, 2026
Not to forget, in case Portugal reaches the final, Ronaldo must score at least one to help his team win because Messi scored two goals in the 2022 World Cup. Fans of the two legends will conduct a direct performance comparison.
For all these reasons, lifting the trophy won’t suffice for Cristiano Ronaldo. He will have to outdo Messi’s performance of 2022 to win the GOAT debate once and for all.
