At an event at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, legend Ronaldo praised Messi as ‘better than the rest of the football world’.

Of course, the person who gave this compliment to Messi was not Cristiano Ronaldo, but “fat” Ronaldo – the Brazilian football legend.

Specifically, “fat” Ronaldo praised Messi when attending a charity program in Miami, part of the FIFA Club World Cup series of events. He said:

“The team that owns Messi has a huge advantage over the rest of the top football world. He is so different, when Messi touches the ball, miracles always appear.”

This statement by “fat” Ronaldo clearly implies that the Argentine superstar is the best player in the world today.

This is not the first time the Brazilian football legend has praised Messi. On at least two occasions he has praised Messi as the world’s number one player, while only calling Cristiano Ronaldo “very good”.

“Messi is not as fit as he was 10 years ago, that’s for sure. But his tactical vision, his ability to read the game, his composure and his mentality always make the difference.

I especially appreciate Messi’s fighting spirit. If he loses the ball, he is ready to run 30-40 meters to get it back. I believe Messi will maintain this physical condition until the 2026 World Cup,” Ronaldo added.

Despite the generational difference, Ronaldo’s compliments for Messi are still meaningful, because he represents Brazilian football – Argentina’s arch-rival.