Ronaldo is much more expansive, extroverted and likes to be on the media and stating out his value. He also makes an excellent case about talent, endurance, training hard, taking care of your career and taking up challenges. That’s not only a good role model, but much more captivating for a kid looking for an idol. Of course Messi is also all that, but there’s an idea that “Messi just plays and Ronaldo works”, and Messi is much more reclusive

Because Ronaldo has a stronger personality and is more carismatic. Ronaldo screams what it means to be an athlete and wanting to win; his speeches, his mindest, the way He portrays himself on the pitch…

Ronaldo has it all when it comes to being an idol and a global phenomenon.

Messi has the skills no doubt, but he doesn’t have the full package. Don’t get me wrong he is one of the most talented athletes ever.

But Ronaldo has everything. He has the looks, the way he carries himself, on top of the goal scoring.

I feel like Ronaldo is more known as a goal scorer, which alone will make young kids more prone to want to be you as the goal scorer gets all the glory in the moment.

The looks play a big role in it too though. Beckham had the looks and it got him far. It makes you so much more marketable and opens the door for modeling, as well as female fans who don’t really care about soccer.

Also the way he carries himself and how he acts. Messi comes off as shy and reserved. Ronaldo is very outgoing and confident, that will also make people want to look up to you as they want to be like you.

Because Ronaldo represents a route to success that any young player can follow: hard work and dedication.

Messi represents a route that isn’t attainable for the vast majority of young footballers: pure, God-given talent.

You can’t be like Messi, he was born with his gift, you can become Ronaldo, if you match his incredible work rate.

Because of being a model and professional training and taking care of himself at 38 years

Because one has won everything thanks to his effort. The other has always been given trophies and awards thanks to the referees, press, etc.

Messi stayed in Barcelona his whole career pretty much whereas Ronaldo became the best player in 3 different clubs, best player in the world in 2 different clubs and therefore naturally gained way more admiration from younger players/ fans.

Also while I do think this debate will go on forever, in my opinion Ronaldo is the face of football which adds to him being admired by more people.

There’s nothing to learn from him rather than being a pet of others.

Everybody has a pinch of talent. Hard work elevates that talent. This is what Ronaldo taught an entire generation of young men.

Messi might have the upper hand in the GOAT debate, but Ronaldo’s influence is unmatched.

Ronaldo’s level feels achievable with hard work, whereas Messi’s is unattainable no matter how much you put into it.

I don’t agree at all with people in here. The real reason is because Ronaldo looked cool. He was much more flashy than Messi. He sort of invented a free kick style as well.

Everybody was wearing Ronaldo’s mercurials and such, everybody wanted to be number 7.

Ronaldo succeeded EVERYWHERE, even when his teams weren’t the best. Sporting, United, Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr, Portugal. Messi is just an inspiration for Barcelona players, Ronaldo is for footballers from all over the world.

a new football star recruited by REAL MADRID

If he said messi madrid fans would have racially abused him again.Both Bellingham and Vini said they prefered messi over Cristiano pre madrid days.

This narrative is so boring. Even among ex teammates of ronaldo the general consensus is that Messi’s the superior player (Kroos, Felix, Figo).

Maybe english fans who grew up watching prem in the late 2000s who were exposed to Ronaldo more, prefer him over messi but that is it.

That reminds me of a quote by Cristiano. “Talent without work is nothing”