The Enduring Legacy of Matthaus, Messi, and Ronaldo in Football History

Matthaus, a former midfielder for Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, received his Golden Ball in 1990 after playing a pivotal role in West Germany’s World Cup victory in Italy that summer. During this era, he was in fierce competition with Diego Maradona for the title of the world’s best player.

Matthaus embraced this rivalry, recognizing its necessity in unlocking the full potential of athletes. Similar dynamics have been observed in the longstanding competition between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have spent two decades vying for global supremacy.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Matthaus reflected on his competition with Maradona, stating, “Diego was the best footballer of my generation. Of course, after me! We had a football friendship. In those days, we were like Messi and Ronaldo. The rivalry makes them great players. Diego and I were rivals on the pitch. We were fighting for our teams and countries. Diego made me bigger and vice versa. We profited from each other.”

Messi and Ronaldo, who have achieved unprecedented sporting greatness, could hardly have anticipated their immortal legacies when they began their careers. Together, they have amassed 13 Ballons d’Or and shattered numerous records. Messi currently holds the title of the most decorated player in history, with 46 trophies, while Ronaldo is recognized as the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history. Both continue to perform at high levels, now representing Inter Miami in MLS and Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, respectively.

When asked to choose between the two icons, Matthaus expressed his preference for Messi, citing his style of play: “I am a fan of Messi because of his style. I don’t like to say Messi is better than Ronaldo, as they have different styles. Ronaldo possesses more power and physical strength, while Messi is smarter. If Ronaldo offers a short entertainment feature with Messi, it is a long-standing entertainment. For this reason, I prefer Messi. He has been more instrumental in football over the last 15 years. If I had the chance to play with one of these two, it would definitely be the maestro from Argentina.”

Support for either player has been fiercely divided over the years, with discussions on who can be deemed the greatest of all time (GOAT) expected to continue until both retire. Ronaldo’s former Manchester United teammate, Fraizer Campbell, recently commented on the necessity to cease comparisons, stating, “I enjoy both of them. I wouldn’t say either is better. I appreciate Messi’s gameplay and celebrate Ronaldo’s accomplishments. They are two of the greatest players in history, and it’s a bit disheartening how people pit them against each other. Let’s just appreciate their greatness!”

Looking ahead, there may be one final iconic encounter between Messi and Ronaldo, as both are expected to compete in next summer’s World Cup finals. Ronaldo has confirmed his participation after Portugal secured qualification, marking what is likely to be his last international tournament.

While Messi has not definitively announced his involvement, he is anticipated to contribute to Argentina’s title defense, having completed his illustrious medal collection at Qatar 2022. Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football with 143 goals, continues to pursue the milestone of 1,000 career goals, a target Messi could also achieve if his prolific form continues into 2028 and beyond.