The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi ended long ago since their transition to different leagues. But fans never miss a moment to reignite the timeless debate between the two undisputed GOATs. This rivalry was rekindled last night during Al Nassr’s tense match against Al Akhdoud, as home fans raised a provocative banner directed at CR7 to remind him of a lingering shadow of La Pulga’s legacy.

A picture was shared by an X account, @M10GOAT, depicting two fans from Al Akhdoud standing proudly with a banner featuring Messi lifting and kissing the 2022 World Cup trophy. Above the image, a caption reads, “The best always and forever 💙🇦🇷.” However, we won’t say they were Al Akhdoud fans, as one of them was donning an Al Hilal shirt. This implies that it could have been mind games from the away fans to unsettle Ronaldo and hinder Al Nassr’s performance. But it looks like the efforts of the supporters went in vain. 

The Knights of the Najd extended their winning streak with a thrilling 2–3 comeback victory. Despite Al Akhdoud equalizing the first-half goals, Marcelo Brozovic’s brace and Ronaldo’s strike helped Al Nassr secure the win. Yet, it’s quite surprising to see the Messi fever in Ronaldo’s territory, which certainly won’t be settling in the eyes of the Portuguese superstar. Notably, this isn’t the first time Ronaldo has dealt with such a situation, as away fans have often tried to provoke him by chanting Messi’s name. The 39-year-old’s response to them has definitely not been a calm one. 

Perhaps this time, he may have ignored the eyebrow-raising banner and focused on the game instead. However, even if he did, the question remains: Is Ronaldo truly affected by such provocations?

Is the GOAT debate against Lionel Messi mentally ‘tough’ for Cristiano Ronaldo? 

In a recent interview, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher acknowledged that dealing with the GOAT debate must have been ‘tough mentally’ for Cristiano Ronaldo. This is because ‘seven or eight people out of 10’ would prefer Messi as the ‘better player.’ Yet, the England icon highlighted that this widespread belief could have been a significant motivator for Ronaldo. “No matter what he did, people still said that. That was a big thing in his career, his mentality,” he said. But let’s hear Ronaldo’s take as well!

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A year ago, Ronaldo confirmed the end of his storied rivalry with Messi, stating, “Hatred? I don’t see things like that; the rivalry is gone. It was good, spectators liked it.” He is not alone in this sentiment, as Messi also shares similar feelings for his arch-rival. “It was a special duel with Cristiano that will remain forever,” said the World Cup winner a few years ago. That said, it’s clear that no matter how hard fans try to fight over who is the best or provoke either of the veterans, the respect between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remains forever.