Portuguese agent says that, at this moment, Ronaldo cannot even be
Portuguese agent Paulo Barbosa stated that, at the current moment, Cristiano Ronaldo “can't even be compared” to Lionel Messi, evaluating the performance of both in the 2026 World Cup. The statements come in the aftermath of Argentina's victory, with Messi in the spotlight, over Egypt 3-2, in the round of 16, and in the wake of Portugal's elimination against Spain (0-1), in the same phase of the competition.In statements reproduced by the Russian press, Barbosa was adamant in pointing out the difference in form between the two stars. For the agent, “Cristiano is a legend”, but, unlike the Portuguese, Messi “continues to score at this level”. In his reading, Ronaldo today shows physical limitations and his use as a starter would have been a technical error that penalized the National Team's performance in the tournament. Barbosa also highlighted that, while the Argentine “decides games”, Ronaldo will have ended up “conditioning” the Quinas team.
The competitive context reinforces the manager’s argument. Lionel Messi leads the race for top scorer at the 2026 World Cup, registering eight goals and one assist in five matches, a record that keeps him at the top of the competition's individual tables. Cristiano Ronaldo, for his part, said goodbye to the competition with three goals scored, a number that did not prevent Portugal from exiting in the round of 16 against Spain.
The comparison between Messi and Ronaldo, which marked the last decade and a half of world football, thus returns to the spotlight during the World Cup held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. On the Argentine side, the team has benefited from the effectiveness and influence of its captain in decisive moments; On the Portuguese side, the bank's options and the management of experience capital in the eleven have been the subject of scrutiny, especially after the elimination against a historic rival like Spain.
Without straying from the topic, Barbosa maintained that the bet on Ronaldo's starting position was “a mistake on the part of the coaches”, blaming this decision for the Portuguese outcome in the competition. It is a critical reading, which reflects the internal debate on how to leverage the available talent and balance status with immediate performance in a direct elimination tournament, where every detail matters.
With Argentina ahead and Messi dictating the rules on the scorer list, the 2026 World Cup continues to offer material for discussion about the legacy of the two giants. Immediately, however, the score is clear: Messi has eight goals and one assist in five games; Ronaldo finished his participation with three goals, and Portugal is already out of the title race.
Frequently asked questions
What did agent Paulo Barbosa say about Ronaldo and Messi?
Paulo Barbosa stated that, at this moment, Cristiano Ronaldo 'can't even be compared' to Lionel Messi due to their performance in the 2026 World Cup.
How has Messi performed at the 2026 World Cup so far?
Lionel Messi leads the race for top scorer at the 2026 World Cup, registering eight goals and one assist in five matches.
How did Portugal do in the 2026 World Cup?
Portugal was eliminated in the round of 16 by Spain, with a result of 0-1.
How many goals did Cristiano Ronaldo score in the 2026 World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals in the 2026 World Cup before Portugal's elimination.
What did Barbosa say about using Ronaldo in the national team?
Barbosa mentioned that the use of Ronaldo as a starter was a technical error that penalized the performance of the National Team.
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