Although conversation and debate have dominated social media and the airwaves for over a decade, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are constantly competing with each other, even toward the twilight of their remarkable careers. While some fans might take it too far on social media, the respect between the two players is immense.
It isn't just on the pitch where Ronaldo has been the only apparent competition for the magical Argentinian since the mid-2000s, but off the pitch, the two have signed some of the most lucrative endorsement deals of this century.
Cryptocurrency Adverts
Both Messi and Ronaldo have put their weight behind cryptocurrency companies. Cristiano is an advocate of the world's most prominent exchange, Binance, and Lionel is an advocate for Bitget. Cryptocurrency is proving to be a big draw for millions of people around the world, and two of the world's biggest sporting icons are supplying their image rights, allowing these companies to continue to grow.
As cryptocurrency becomes more viable in an ever-changing society, with all sorts of meaningful utility that ranges from cryptocurrency casinos to El Salvador, where it is legal currency, this is resulting in more people becoming aware and intrigued by the concept of digital assets.
Online Gaming With Crypto
Although many footballers and figures in the footballing industry partake in gambling adverts, the rules and structure that professional footballers need to adhere to means they cannot place a football bet themselves without reprimanding. However, Messi and Ronaldo are such massive crossover stars that they cannot advertise gambling. Still, with the rise of people using cryptocurrency to gamble, people are becoming indirectly aware of these markets through crypto adverts.
Now that an increasing number of people use cryptocurrency to place sports bets and play casino games, gambling with cryptocurrency is one of the most practical ways to engage potential cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Online casino gaming with cryptocurrency is gathering speed. With this increased visibility, the markets for cryptocurrency and casino games like poker, blackjack, and roulette that use Bitcoin become more viable. Although we might be a few years away from witnessing cryptocurrency mass adoption and crypto casinos challenging traditional casinos, it is promising for a small but growing area of the gambling sector.
Social Media Followers
Just like their rivalry, Ronaldo & Lionel Messi are battling it out at the top of the most followed Instagram list. The Argentinian has 450 million followers on Instagram, and Ronaldo has a whopping 600 million.
To put this into perspective, if Ronaldo's Instagram followers were in one country, it would be the third largest country in the world, and it is estimated that he earns over $50 million a year due to his colossal fanbase on the social media app. The Portuguese is winning this battle compared to his legendary adversary, and he also has over 100 million followers on Twitter, with a full global reach across all social media platforms nearing one billion people.
Net Worth
Ronaldo's social media following gives him a more significant digital passive income stream than the 2022 World Cup winner. In this field, the two are much closer; various estimates put Ronaldo's net worth at around half a billion dollars, but Messi's net worth is believed to be a lot closer to $600 million. However, with so many different endorsements, wage brackets, and a host of other variables, it can be difficult to distinguish the accurate net figure.
Given that they have hundreds of individual and team accolades between them, net worth is another category with a razor-thin distinction, and differing reports either put one above the other or have it immeasurably close.
Cars
Cristiano and Lionel are renowned for their professionalism and healthy lifestyle outside the sport. However, their wealth is so vast that nobody can blame them for occasionally enjoying the finer things in life, and they both have an extensive collection of luxury cars to their name. Cristiano's car collection is believed to be over $20 million, with nearly two dozen luxury sports cars, and surprisingly, Messi's collection is said to be roughly double that.
Although the Argentinian man lives a reserved life with his family, he has a real passion for motors. While some might believe Cristiano is the man with the flashier lifestyle and image, Lionel's luxury car collection far surpasses the Al Nassr striker.
Final Thoughts
It seems as though nothing genuinely definitive will separate these two iconic superstars of the modern game. Many pundits and analysts have commented that the two will only be appreciated properly once they have both retired, which is one of the most accurate assessments you can make about the competition between the pair.
Yet, as they near the end of their magical careers, they are both undoubtedly two of the finest talents to ever play the game, and with Cristiano talking about playing in the Euros for Portugal and Messi not even hinting at any sort of retirement, it looks like we will be able to enjoy the talents of the two global megastars for a few more years to come.