Did Christiano Ronaldo just call his race with Lionel Messi a draw?

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Following Christiano Ronaldo’s unimaginable exclusion from the list of the 60 annual nominees for the Ballon d’Or awards, many expected to see the Al Nassr forward with pouted lips.

Contrary to the image some thought would come from Saudi Arabia, given Christiano Ronaldo’s tendency to making short, angry comments, we saw a Ronaldo that seemed quite relaxed.

Last year, it was Lionel Messi’s turn to be relaxed. The organizing committee for the Ballon d’Or awards left aside his name while compiling the lists of nominees. Though the explanation they gave was understandable, the rejection of Lionel Messi from the list is still a wonder, since he was a prolific scorer.

As the news of Christiano Ronaldo’s inability to make the nominees’ list spread yesterday, it was a big shock to the Portuguese superstar’s fans, because he just won a cup last Saudi’s SPL season, just as Messi who made the list had done at the Major League Soccer. So, why should Ronaldo be left out? Is this an attempt to pacify Messi? An official statement is yet to come on this topic.

But ahead of the awaited clarification, Christiano Ronaldo has spoken to both fans and media concerning how to look at him and Messi. From his statement, the word ‘rival’ is out of question. They are two co-GOATs that changed the history of football. In what way?

Each era is blessed with a greatest of all time, many choose to believe. Among the greatest in every time are the greatest of the greatest. But as things stand, both players have not been able to outdo each other by a very substantial margin. Though Messi has scored more goals and won more Ballon d’Or awards, there are other things being considered, like impacts in one’s team and past exploits. And so fans around the world are presently either split over who is the best, or united over support for both high achievers.

Lionel Messi

Did Christiano Ronaldo’s statement about he and Messi mean he has called the race to be the world’s best a draw? It seems he has reasons to do so.

The 38 year old Christiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr knows that age is no longer on his side. Though he wants to play football till his fortieth birthday, he knows that his better days have passed at Real Madrid where he won the Ballon d’Or awards 4 times.

He was first nominated for the award at the age of 19 while being a new sensation at Manchester United. Though he was left in the twelfth place in the end, that did not stop him from winning it 5 times later.

Messi has won the award seven times. Analysts think he has a good chance of winning the present one, if Manchester City’s Erling Haaland permits him an inch.

It seems, however, that Ronaldo’s rejection from the list has ended his hope of beating Messi before retiring. His statement could well be an expression of this discouragement.