Portugal forward Rafael Leao gives his take on Lionel Messi World Cup glory and Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT debate

Rafael Leao has made his view very clear in the biggest debate in football. When asked if Lionel Messi winning the FIFA World Cup makes him a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal forward said no. In his words, the World Cup trophy does not change who he believes is the greatest in football history. Lionel Messi lifted the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in Qatar in December 2022. That title was the only major trophy missing from his career. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, has won league titles and Champions League trophies across Europe, but he has never won the World Cup with Portugal.Many fans felt Messi’s World Cup win ended the long-running debate. But Rafael Leao does not agree. Speaking to CBS Sports Golazo, as shared by ActuCR7, he said:“No, I don’t think that’s fair. Of course, the World Cup is important for Cristiano because he never won it. But it changes nothing, Cristiano Ronaldo will remain the greatest in the history of football.” With that, Leao added his voice to one of football’s most talked-about questions.Rafael Leao, who plays for AC Milan and represents Portugal, knows Cristiano Ronaldo closely from national team duty. The two played together at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Portugal reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by Morocco.Leao believes one trophy cannot decide greatness. While Lionel Messi’s World Cup win was historic, Leao feels Ronaldo’s long career, records, and influence on the game still stand tall.The debate has also drawn opinions from former players. Patrice Evra, who played with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United between 2006 and 2009, has also backed the Portuguese star in the past. Speaking to The Telegraph, Evra said:“Anyone might have talent, but do you put in the effort? Anyone might have talent, but do you put in the effort?”Evra and Ronaldo won three Premier League titles together from 2006-07 to 2008-09 and lifted the UEFA Champions League in 2008.Even now, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to add to their records. Ronaldo has scored over 890 senior career goals for club and country, while Messi has scored over 820. They remain the two highest goal scorers in men’s international football history.As both legends move toward the final years of their careers, the debate still lives on. And for Rafael Leao, the answer is simple. The World Cup matters, but in his eyes, Cristiano Ronaldo is still the greatest.