Cristiano Ronaldo causes a stir with shocking statement: “Messi will never be better than me — if anyone is better than me, it will be Mbappé!”

The global online community is in an uproar after Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest statement in an interview filmed in Riyadh, where he currently plays for Al Nassr. The Portuguese superstar suddenly spoke up about the eternal debate between him and Lionel Messi — and this time the statement has stunned the entire football world.

Ronaldo said bluntly: “I do not agree that Messi is better than me. The empire that I have built — from Real Madrid, Manchester United to the Portuguese national team — will never have anyone better than me. And if there is, it will definitely not be Messi. It will be Mbappé.”

The statement “Messi will never be better than me” immediately became a hot headline in a series of major newspapers such as Marca, The Sun, Daily Mail and L’Équipe. In just a few hours, the hashtags #RonaldoVsMessi and #Mbappe climbed to the top of global trends on Twitter, attracting millions of interactions.

According to many analysts, Ronaldo’s mention of Kylian Mbappé was no coincidence. In CR7’s eyes, Mbappé is a well-rounded young talent — speed, technique, fighting spirit and scoring ability all make him see himself in the new generation. Ronaldo once shared in 2022: “Mbappé can become the greatest player in the world after me. He has the desire, the spirit and the DNA to win.”

However, this time, Ronaldo’s public comparison of Mbappé with Messi has divided public opinion into two distinct streams.

On one side are CR7’s supporters, who believe that he has every right to be proud of his glorious career. Ronaldo is the only player in history to score in five consecutive World Cups, has more than 870 professional goals, and has won five Ballon d’Ors and numerous titles at club and international level. “Ronaldo is right — he is a symbol of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. Messi may be a genius, but Ronaldo is proof that perfection can be achieved,” said a British sports commentator.

On the other hand, Messi fans believe that this statement only reflects Ronaldo’s “oversized ego.” They argue that Messi has won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina — a title Ronaldo has never won. One fan commented: “Ronaldo should learn to accept that his time is over. Defining himself by denying Messi only makes him look less classy.”

However, those close to Ronaldo say that he had no intention of attacking Messi personally, but only wanted to affirm his belief in himself and honor the spirit of competition in sports. A source from Al Nassr shared: “Cristiano always said that the comparison between him and Messi makes both of them greater. But deep down, he believes that his legacy — dedication, discipline and success in many different tournaments — is something Messi has never achieved.”

After this statement, Mbappé was also said to have “liked” a post supporting Ronaldo, causing further discussion on the internet. Some fans joked: “Maybe Mbappé is about to become the official heir of CR7.”

Regardless of the controversy, one thing is certain: Ronaldo is still a living symbol of confidence and the desire to reach the top. And with the statement “If anyone surpasses me, it can only be Mbappé,” CR7 once again proved he is not only a legend — but also the man who defines what it means to be a champion.