“Ronaldo is a big showboat” - Executive chairman of VICE Media on Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate during Joe Rogan’s podcast

The Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate was fuelled during Joe Rogan's podcast where the Executive Chairman of VICE Media, Shane Smith pointed out his favorite footballer between the two.

Smith, on Episode #2214 of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, spoke on MMA fighters and athletes from other sports. When the Messi vs Ronaldo debate popped up, he chose Lionel Messi because of the Argentine star's humility. He mentioned that Messi never labels himself as one of the best footballers in the world despite being one.

About Cristiano Ronaldo, Smith said that if the Portuguese ace was asked the same question, he would name himself.

Smith told Joe Rogan:

"He’s (Messi) probably the most famous person in the world who’s done it all, and yet he really walks around as though he’s nobody. On the other hand, Ronaldo is a big showboat. If you ask Ronaldo who’s the greatest player ever, he’ll say, 'It’s me.' Whereas if you ask Messi, he’ll list 10 people, and he won’t put himself on that list.”

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How do Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo match up to each other?

The Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate has been a never-ending one. There are differences between the two stalwarts, not only in terms of their mentality, but also their achievements. Messi spent 17 years at Barcelona and shed tears when he left the club in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, left for Real Madrid after his stint with Manchester United, and later played for Juventus. Currently, both the stars are not playing in Europe. While Messi is shining in the Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, Ronaldo is busy creating history in Asia with Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr.

Speaking of the accolades, Messi is an eight-time recipient of the Ballon d'Or, compared to Ronaldo's five. On the other hand, Ronaldo has won the UEFA Champions League five times, four times with Real Madrid and once during his stay at Manchester United. Messi, on the other hand, has won the continental competition on four occasions, at Barcelona.

The place where Lionel Messi truly outwits Cristiano Ronaldo is in the international arena. Ronaldo initially won the Euro Cup in 2016, adding an international trophy to his cabinet. Messi, however, had to wait till 2021 to fill this void.

In 2021, he won the Copa America, a feat Argentina again accomplished in 2024. In between, in 2022, the Argentine star lifted the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy, creating the major difference with Cristiano Ronaldo, whose country Portugal are yet to conquer the world.