The Ligue 1 social network posted an image of Lionel Messi kissing the 2022 World Cup championship in response to a derogatory statement by Cristiano Ronaldo.
In January, while collecting a hat-trick of awards at Globe Soccer, Ronaldo said the Saudi Pro League was more competitive and of a higher quality than Ligue 1, the tournament in which Lionel Messi played. The Portuguese forward believes Ligue 1 only has PSG and one or two other top-level clubs, while the Saudi Pro League is competitive and growing.
On December 27, attending this year’s Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo reaffirmed this claim. “The Saudi Pro League is definitely better than Ligue 1,” the 39-year-old striker said. “Ligue 1 only has PSG, the rest are nothing. Try racing in 38, 39, 40 degree weather and you’ll understand.”
Ronaldo stressed that he cannot win the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr due to the high level of competition, with Al Hilal and Al Ittihad occupying the top two positions respectively. “We have to do our best to become champions,” he said. “I am the champion everywhere I play and I believe I will win the Saudi championship.”
Following a series of disparaging remarks from Ronaldo, the Ligue 1 social network responded by posting a photo of Messi admiring the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with the message “Messi plays in 38 degrees of heat.”
Messi plays for PSG in the 2021-2023 period, scoring 32 goals and assisting 34 times in 75 matches. The Argentine star won Ligue 1 twice, won the French Super Cup, but was eliminated in the round of 16 of the Champions League for two consecutive seasons. While on PSG’s staff, Messi achieved the greatest glory of his career when he and Argentina won the 2022 World Cup.
In the summer of 2023, Messi left PSG to join the American professional league MLS. The Argentine star has 34 goals and 18 assists in 39 games, winning the Leagues Cup and the Suppotters’ Shield with Inter Miami.
Ronaldo and Portugal won the European Championship and the Nations League, but never won the World Cup. The 39-year-old left Europe for Saudi Arabia in January 2023, without winning any official titles with the national team. He has 80 goals and 18 assists in 89 games for Al Nassr, including a record 35 goals in the 2023-2024 Saudi Pro League.
