The debate about the “best of all time” seems to have ended with Lionel Messi’s World Cup victory. And what is Cristiano Ronaldo doing? He dives.
Then she seems to be grinning, the goat. Calmly, almost contentedly, he looks into the camera. Caption: “I told you so” – in German: “I told you so.” And further: “Debate closed.” The Instagram post from sporting goods manufacturer Adidas the day after Argentina’s World Cup victory was another dig at the biggest rival of Lionel Messi, who he sponsored and with the “Albiceleste” is now finally famous at a World Cup.
Because the goat – in English “Goat” – also stands as a symbol for the sporty “GOAT”, the “Greatest of All Time”, i.e. the best of all time. And that never-ending debate seems sort of settled with this memorable endgame from Lusail.
The result: Lionel Messi is the “GOAT” – and not his eternal (and equipped by Adidas competitor Nike) adversary Cristiano Ronaldo. After all, “CR7” and his Portuguese failed miserably in the quarter-finals against the surprise team Morocco, and was only allowed to watch as “La Pulga” finally put on the crown round after round. Soccer World Champion – widely regarded as the ultimate accolade, a title that separates the greats from the not-so-greats. It doesn’t take much imagination to imagine that Ronaldo these days, well, isn’t exactly excited about what is arguably the final evolution of this 15-year rivalry. Although nothing is known about a deep mutual dislike of the two grandees, they are not supposed to be the best of friends, to put it mildly.
Silence on Ronaldo’s social media channels
Nevertheless, in his current silence, Ronaldo is now louder than any statement could have been: No magnanimous congratulations to Messi, no congratulations, nothing. The question could almost arise: Where is he?
The 37-year-old’s last Instagram post was dated December 11, the day after Portugal lost to Morocco. And Ronaldo’s silence becomes all the clearer when looking at all the companions and personalities who have already congratulated Messi: from Argentine sports greats such as ex-tennis star Juan Martin Del Potro and basketball icon Manu Ginobili to tennis “GOAT” Roger Federer and football great Pelé .
From Ronaldo, on the other hand, there has only been the message that he is currently keeping fit at the Real Madrid training ground. Meanwhile she can keep smiling, the best goat ever.