How did Messi and Ronaldo’s rivalry shape the sports betting industry?

March 08, 2025

There have been many epic football rivalries over the years, but none has come close to the one between Messi and Ronaldo. Two of the game’s greatest players of all time made the sport even more popular than it was. The rivalry between them impacted many different industries, including sports betting. There are many things you may not know, so let’s dive in and learn more about them.

They influenced many new bookmakers

Among the first things, people can notice if they decide to bet on sports is that there are many different operators. Choosing a proper option requires time, which is one of the reasons why users often trust the professional analyses on Nostrabet's website to show them everything about a given operator. The reviews will include details about all key aspects related to the given site and allow a person to make the best choice.

Speaking of many bookmakers, the Messi vs Ronaldo rivalry is one of the reasons why there are so many brands. Whether you are looking for how many trophies does Messi have or something else, there is a good chance you will find a betting market for it. The fact that so many people want to know more about this rivalry resulted in many online bookmakers because companies want to capture these clients’ attention.

Of course, the same is true when it comes to Ronaldo. Questions like how old is Ronaldo or something related to his career are almost always among the options that people can bet on. This does not mean that everyone will punt on these markets, but the fact that a lot of clients do it means that the two players have more than enough fans.

Boosting the bettiing volume and market expansion

When talking about the Messi vs Ronaldo rivalry and online betting, we need to mention that booth players brought an unparalleled level of global interest to football. This is especially true when it comes to La Liga when they played for Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively. The two GOATs were always the focus of attention because each one was the leader of its respective team.

Whether you support the Messi team or Real Madrid, no one can deny that El Classico was something special. Besides millions of people who watched the match, tons of them also decided to place bets because they were supporting their favorite players. Consequently, these two have attracted a lot of new online bettors.

Many bonuses were introduced because of them

There is no arguing that bonuses are an important aspect of every online bookmaker. Companies have all sorts of options, and it is safe to say that the rivalry between these two footballers has impacted some of the promotions.

Since some people often ask how many goals does Messi have and what team is Ronaldo on, bookies decided to use this to their advantage and offer unique promotions. Most of these deals target specific markets related to these two players and boost their odds. Some will also offer a cashback percentage so that more people can decide to bet on them.

Messi and Ronaldo also have an impact on some of the traditional sports betting bonuses related to football. For example, both players were among the reasons why some bookies started offering individual bonuses for goals, cards, corners, and things like that. Not many people choose such offers, but they are becoming more popular daily.

More player props

Whether you want to bet on the Cristiano Ronaldo net worth or something else, no one can deny that the rivalry between him and Messi had a huge impact on the player props markets. Many people prefer wagering on the traditional options, but player props receive more and more attention.

When talking about these markets, you can find all kinds of options, such as shots on target, first goal scorer, number of goals, hat-tricks, and more. Nowadays, a lot of people continue to bet on these options, despite the fact that Ronaldo and Messi are no longer competing against each other.

Long-term markets

When talking about the markets, we also need to mention the many different long-term options. As you know, Messi and Ronaldo have won the Ballon d’Or countless times, but it was always interesting to see which player would come in first. As a result, bookmakers decided to provide special kinds of long-term markets that allow players to bet on these events.

Nowadays, you can find options for pretty much everything, such as who is going to win La Liga and who’s going to score more goals.

All in all, Messi and Ronaldo’s football rivalry had a big role in sports betting. Their dominance and inspiration to fans worldwide have had a major impact on this industry, and they continue to attract fans from all over the world.

Updated Mar 23, 10:18 PM UTC