The FIFA World Cup 2022 might be over, but soccer stars and fans are still praising Lionel Messi. The Argentine wizard deservedly won the trophy that was missing from his overflowing cabinet. Real Madrid legends are also coming forward to admire their long-time rival for the accomplishment.

Real Madrid players have always taken the side of Cristiano Ronaldo whenever the debate comparing him to Messi is raised. It seemed like a protocol for the Los Blancos players as Ronaldo has contributed highly to the club’s success. But Messi’s recent World Cup triumph has changed this, as many current and former Real Madrid players have heaped praise on the Argentine captain.

Toni Kroos feels Lionel Messi was a deserving winner

Real Madrid midfielder, 2014 World Cup winner with Germany, while speaking to Magenta TV recently, claimed that Lionel Messi deserves the trophy. Kroos said, “Leo Messi deserves it. In terms of individual performances at a tournament, I’ve never seen a footballer play as consistently as this guy. You have to bear in mind that he’s never played for clubs that I like, which proves that I’m serious.”

Toni Kroos has been a long-time rival of Lionel Messi. Kroos was already a Real Madrid player, as he signed the contract before the 2014 World Cup. Germans beat Lionel Messi led Argentina in the final, crashing the dream of Messi. Kroos played against Messi in La Liga from the 2014-15 season until Messi’s move to PSG in 2021. 

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Kroos’s comments come as a big surprise, but he wasn’t the only one. Another Los Blancos and Brazil legend, Marcelo, who is the best friend of Cristiano Ronaldo, liked the Instagram post of ADIDAS mentioning the GOAT debate is over after Messi’s triumph. 

Although, the GOAT debate between the two best soccer stars, Ronaldo and Messi, will go on. They have given fans sheer entertainment throughout their careers, which was at a peak from 2009 to 2018. 

Ronaldo or Messi, a never-ending debate

Cristiano Ronaldo’s record move in 2009 to Real Madrid sparked a massive soccer rivalry with Messi, who was playing for arch-rivals FC Barcelona. The duo dominated the decade after that, winning all the ten Balon d’Ors between them. They were going toe-to-toe for every goal-scoring record and carried their respective clubs to glory.

Real Madrid made history with the three-peat in UEFA Champions League, where Ronaldo was the substantial factor with his goal-scoring. On the other hand, Messi’s exploits led to FC Barcelona winning a treble in the 2014-15 season. 

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The soccer stars took their clubs and La Liga to another level. They were breaking records with every passing game. Messi now has more international trophies, including the biggest, more Balon d’Ors than Ronaldo, while Ronaldo leads Messi in overall goal-scoring and the UEFA Champions League titles. Both of them now possess two major international trophies. Respective fans of the players will keep finding a way to keep the rivalry going. 

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Let us know in the comments whose side are you on.