There has long been a debate as to who the best soccer player in the world is, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. On paper, Lionel Messi is the better soccer player because of two reasons.
The first reason is that Lionel Messi has won the FIFA World Cup – soccer's most coveted international trophy. Ronaldo has never won the World Cup with Portugal.
The other reason is that Messi has won more Ballon d'Or awards than Ronaldo. Messi has won soccer's most prestigious and valuable individual award on eight separate occasions, and Ronaldo has won just five times.
However, in terms of popularity and how famous the two players are in certain parts of the world, such as India, Ronaldo often wins because of the sheer volume of television and billboard commercials he does. Messi tends to shy away from this kind of self-promotion.
Let's dive straight in to discover just how popular Messi is in India.
How popular is Messi in India?
Don't forget that cricket is the number one sport in India, not soccer, and therefore, cricket legends who are either still playing today, such as Virat Kohli, or legendary players who retired long ago, such as Sachin Tendulkar, will always be more famous than any soccer player can ever expect to be in India.
However, Lionel Messi is hugely popular in India because of his global stardom. Sports fans across India are familiar with Messi's face, although they might never have watched him play in person or on television.
Many people also know who Lionel Messi is but might not be able to tell you exactly where Argentina is on the map. However, the same thing happens in many other countries, not just India. Everyone knows who Messi is and that he is a famous soccer player, but they may not know much about him.
Although Messi shies away from certain endorsements and is hardly ever seen as the face of a brand, whether that's a watch-making company, sports label, or car manufacturer, his sporting achievements ensure Messi is well-known and will remain the G.O.A.T. (the greatest of all time).
There is a very fine line between how popular Messi and Ronaldo are in India. Sometimes, it's Messi, and other times, especially during certain commercial/advertising campaigns, it's Ronaldo.
Close to 80% of all people who were surveyed know who Messi and Ronaldo are, and just over 20% of women who were surveyed know who they both are.
Interestingly, slightly more people in India have said they prefer/support Messi more than Ronaldo during some surveys, but when similar surveys have taken place at other times, the opposite result was found.
However, when you ask those same people to name their favourite international soccer team, around half the people surveyed said Argentina, followed by Brazil, and then France, with very few saying Portugal.
The reason for this is the 'Messi effect' – his lasting legacy on the soccer world, with his influence being felt at all levels of the game and by sports fans across the globe.
Are there any iGaming sites in India where I can bet on soccer matches featuring Messi?
If you live in India and want to place a bet on Lionel Messi before he retires from playing soccer, the most trusted soccer betting app in India with some of the iGaming industry's most competitive odds can be found on the official 10CRIC sports betting online casino website.
Lionel Messi currently plays in the M.L.S. for David Beckham's Inter Miami. He was recently joined by former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez, and they are currently the odds-on favourite team to win the 2024 M.L.S. Cup 2024. We can take a closer look at the latest odds a bit further down.
How do I know 10CRIC Sports is safe?
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Can Lionel Messi's Inter Miami win the 2024 MLS. Cup?
Based on the latest odds on trusted online sports betting sites like 10CRIC, Inter Miami can potentially win the 2024 MLS. Cup outright. In fact, they are the current odds-on favourite team to win. Let's take a closer look at some of the latest 'average' odds:
- Inter Miami CF (odds-on favourites to win the 2024 MLS. Cup outright). Decimal odds: 3.75 (which is the same as 11/4 in fractional odds and +275 in American/moneyline odds). Implied probability rate (IPR.): 26.70%
- Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC (joint-second odds-on favourite teams to win the 2024 MLS. Cup outright). Decimal odds: 9.00 (8/1, or +800). IPR.: 11.10%
- FC Cincinnati and Philadelphia Union (also both jointly priced). Decimal odds: 9.00 (8/1, or +800). IPR: 11.10%
The thing to remember is that these odds are subject to change at any time and that no bets in soccer or any other sport are ever guaranteed to win. Similarly, anything can happen in football to change the outcome, so only place bets if you can afford to lose.
Final thoughts
Whether your favourite footballer is Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, there's no denying that when these two players both finally hang up their boots for good and retire from the sport, it will take someone very special to fill their boots and become known as the next G.O.A.T.