‘Worst thing about Cristiano Ronaldo’: Messi fans’ farewell to CR7 goes viral after Portugal vs Spain | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Today’s news

Verified Messi fan Appie Cule has posted a long farewell to Cristiano Ronaldo. This happened after Spain beat Portugal 1-0 at the World Cup. This defeat effectively ended Ronaldo’s World Cup career for good. Cule framed the post as Ronaldo’s definitive “last dance” moment.

The post claimed that Ronaldo has set incredibly high standards for himself. It claimed that CR7 ultimately failed its own criteria.

“You know what’s the worst thing about Cristiano Ronaldo? It’s that he set the standards for what defines a legend… and in the end, he couldn’t even live up to the standards he himself created,” the post read.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s farewell message resonated as it marked the end of his World Cup journey, with fans reflecting on his legacy and the emotional weight of his ‘last dance’ moment in football.

Ronaldo’s comments about the need to win international trophies for a player’s legacy highlighted a discrepancy in his own career regarding expectations and achievements, particularly compared to Lionel Messi.

A 1-0 defeat to Spain at the World Cup effectively ended Ronaldo’s World Cup career and prompted speculation about his legacy as it was seen as a disappointment after his long pursuit of the trophy.

While some speculate whether Ronaldo could be aiming for another World Cup, his own statements indicate uncertainty about his timeline, suggesting a focus on personal choice rather than outside expectations.

The public reaction included an outpouring of emotion from fans around the world who celebrated Ronaldo’s career and legacy, reflecting a deep appreciation despite the lack of a World Cup win.

Read also | ‘King leaves crownless’: Ronaldo fans stunned after World Cup exit

Cule recalled Ronaldo’s comments after winning Euro 2016. The Portuguese great suggested that legends must win trophies with their countries. This was widely seen as a blow to Messi.

At that time, Argentina had just lost the final of the 2014 World Cup. Messi was going through a tough time with the national team at that time. Cule felt this showed a lack of respect between the rivals.

Social media has largely embraced this anti-Messi narrative, the post claimed. Messi has been called a bottler in various circles. Ronaldo, meanwhile, was declared the clear winner of the rivalry. Cule noted that this only applies in media coverage. It didn’t translate into actual football success, he argued.

Messi later left, came back and won the Copa America. This brought both players level at major international trophies. Cule said Ronaldo’s supporters then pushed their argument again.

They declared that one European Championship outweighed several Copa America titles. They dismissed the South American competition as relatively weak, Cule wrote.

Read also | FIFA World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo hits back at critics with a brutal note

Messi subsequently went on to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina. Ronaldo’s fans have reportedly changed their story once again. Some have reportedly suggested that FIFA favored Messi to win. Cule described the claims as attempts to downplay Messi’s success.

The post highlighted a contradiction in Ronaldo’s own statements. “The career of a legend cannot be defined by just seven games,” Cule once quoted Ronaldo as saying.

Cule claimed that this softened Ronaldo’s earlier remarks about international success.

Before this World Cup, pundits predicted a strong campaign for Ronaldo. Portugal’s team was considered talented and well-equipped, Cule noted. Any tactical failure was down to the manager, not Ronaldo, he added.

Cule compared this team favorably to Argentina’s group of 2014. This team was previously criticized for Messi’s second-place finish. The post claimed that the comparison revealed inconsistent standards applied to both players.

Read also | Cristiano Ronaldo confirms 2026 FIFA World Cup will be his last; “Yes, it’s mine…”

Cule also cited a more recent comment from Ronaldo. He reportedly said that the World Cup in no way defined his career. This seemed to contradict earlier claims that it was needed.

The post then presented statistics unfavorable to Ronaldo’s overall legacy claims. He has 5 Ballon d’Or awards, less than Messi’s 8. He has won 1 European Championship compared to 2 Copa América titles for Messi. Ronaldo has never lifted a World Cup trophy himself. He also has fewer European Golden Boots than Messi overall.

“Ronaldo would not qualify as a legend”

Cule asked if Ronaldo could continue to play at the next World Cup. He hinted that it could make him the oldest World Cup participant ever. By Ronaldo’s own past logic, CR7 would not qualify as a legend. Still, Cule acknowledges that no one really judges him that harshly.

“If we were to judge you by the standards you have created, you would not qualify as a legend. Of course, no one judges you that way. Everyone still recognizes you as one of football’s greatest legends,” he wrote.

The real mistake, Cule wrote, was always comparing Ronaldo and Messi. He accused media figures and pundits of exaggerating this rivalry.

Cule praised Messi for never downplaying Ronaldo’s achievements. He criticized Ronaldo for repeatedly undermining Messi’s achievements instead.

“Ronaldo, on the other hand, has repeatedly made remarks that many have interpreted as attempts to downplay the achievements of his greatest rival – and that is never an admirable quality,” Cule wrote.

“Cristiano helped create a generation that thinks that downplaying other people’s achievements while constantly celebrating your own is the way to establish dominance. Goodbye Ronaldo,” he concluded.