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Messi vs. Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATs, and the Era That Remade the World's Game
Essential World Cup Reading | Featured in The New York Times ' 'What to Read During the World Cup' Wall Street Journal reporters Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg offer a deeply reported account of the intertwined sagas and legacies of two of the greatest soccer players of all time—Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo—examining how their rivalry has grown from a personal competition to a multi-billion-dollar industry, paralleling the stunning rise, overwhelming excesses, and uncertain future of modern international soccer. For over fifteen years, almost any conversation about international soccer has always come back to two players—Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo—undoubtedly the greatest of their generation but with styles, attitudes, and fanbases that couldn’t be more different. For millions of people around the world “Messi or Ronaldo?” isn’t simply a barroom argument, or an affirmation of fandom, so much as a statement of philosophy, of values, of what global soccer is today and of what it will be tomorrow. Now Wall Street Journal reporters and co-authors of The Club , Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg, unite the stories of Messi and Ronaldo into a single modern epic of global sports, detailing how one rivalry changed both the game and the business of international soccer—forever. Based on dozens of firsthand accounts and years of original reporting, Messi vs. Ronaldo weaves together the stakes, color, and characters at the heart of each man’s story, going inside the locker rooms and boardrooms where their legends were forged and revealing off-field drama as gripping as anything that happened on it. From their contrasting origin stories to their divergent career arcs and their conflicting reputations, these players have built their successes on opposite paths, yet each, in his own way, offers a riveting tale of triumph and excess. Taken together, their story embodies the astronomical growth of international soccer, how social media has revolutionized the power of sports celebrity, and how the desire to capitalize on the billions of dollars these players represent electrified some of the most storied clubs in Europe—Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester United among them—and cost them almost everything. With the 2022 World Cup almost certain to be the last for both of these figures, Messi vs. Ronaldo offers a deeply researched look at their legacy and grapples with the impact that their talents have had on the game for better and for worse. Much more than a retelling of the dual accomplishments of these great players, this is truly a biography of a rivalry, one that has become a crucial lens for understanding the past, present, and future of global soccer.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
92 people are currently reading
2235 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Clegg
8 books26 followersJonathan Clegg is an editor for The Wall Street Journal, his work has also appeared in the Daily Telegraph, the Independent (U.K.), and FourFourTwo magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
December 18, 2022
The World Cup final is here. For a sports fan this past month has been a dream. I struggle when baseball season ends and the NFL is primarily one day a week. This month, I have been watching the football of the rest of the world for the past month and bonding with my husband and son, who are fanatics, in the process. Even I know Messi and Ronaldo, how could I not, so I wanted to get this book read in time for the final game, which is starting as I write. I had been on Team Ronaldo for most of the month until his nation got eliminated. Usually I am on Team Ronaldo only because in his broken English he encouraged “another Goat” to stay out of retirement. That aside, my husband has always rooted for Brazil, so by default I would not root for Argentina, and that has kept me off of Team Messi. For today, I have joined Team Messi, only because he has said that he is done with international competitions after this World Cup, and it is always a moving moment when an athlete goes out on top.
Thanks to my son’s knowledge of football history, I knew most of the football moments outlined in this book, think Brady vs Manning but the entire world is watching. The business side of sports always interests me. I have always thought that baseball should adopt European football’s transfer policy instead of trading away soon to be free agents at the deadline in return for peanuts. Clegg has outlined why this idea is not so simple, mainly because only a handful of teams can afford the best players available on transfer or loan. As American, he simplifies the business of sports on terms that Americans who primarily watch American sports would understand. For instance, Manchester City is the Dodgers and Manchester United is the Yankees and Liverpool is the Red Sox. He notes that if Ronaldo had ever signed with Manchester City, it would be akin to the Red Sox’ sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Those terms I can relate to.
What I cannot relate to is the Spanish La Liga being nearly bankrupt due to the country’s national laws interfering with sports. In the United States, major sports leagues are generally exempt from governing laws and are left to govern themselves. The last time Major League Baseball faced a threat of bankruptcy was in the 1880s. It would be as if the Yankees and Dodgers were flush with riches as they are now but the rest of the league was struggling at all to break even. That is the situation in Spain and why both Ronaldo and Messi had to leave their teams that they are most known for, Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. For you Americans out there, it would be if Brady and Manning bolted for the CFL because the NFL was bankrupt. Although not noted in the book, the situation has improved on the football pitch and financially because after a four year hiatus, Ronaldo announced that he is returning to Real Madrid. If Messi decided to spend the twilight of his career back in Barcelona, that would bring both men full circle, ending two decades of dominance in the place where they started.
Today I am on Team Messi only because I always cheer for the elder statesmen of sports. Once all these icons retire and there are no contemporaries of mine left competing, it will be harder for me to relate to professional sports, as I find myself more and more calling most of the competing athletes by the endearing term “kid.” Just as in my childhood cheering on Michael Jordan and the last twenty years being firmly entrenched on Team Brady, Ronaldo and Messi are beyond generational talents. They are international icons who drive the sport both on the field and at the bank. Seeing how they have modernized football into a 21st century game has been a thrilling ride. I just hope the World Cup final today is as thrilling as Ronaldo and Messi clash at the height of their careers.
⚽️ 4 stars ⚽️
Thanks to my son’s knowledge of football history, I knew most of the football moments outlined in this book, think Brady vs Manning but the entire world is watching. The business side of sports always interests me. I have always thought that baseball should adopt European football’s transfer policy instead of trading away soon to be free agents at the deadline in return for peanuts. Clegg has outlined why this idea is not so simple, mainly because only a handful of teams can afford the best players available on transfer or loan. As American, he simplifies the business of sports on terms that Americans who primarily watch American sports would understand. For instance, Manchester City is the Dodgers and Manchester United is the Yankees and Liverpool is the Red Sox. He notes that if Ronaldo had ever signed with Manchester City, it would be akin to the Red Sox’ sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Those terms I can relate to.
What I cannot relate to is the Spanish La Liga being nearly bankrupt due to the country’s national laws interfering with sports. In the United States, major sports leagues are generally exempt from governing laws and are left to govern themselves. The last time Major League Baseball faced a threat of bankruptcy was in the 1880s. It would be as if the Yankees and Dodgers were flush with riches as they are now but the rest of the league was struggling at all to break even. That is the situation in Spain and why both Ronaldo and Messi had to leave their teams that they are most known for, Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. For you Americans out there, it would be if Brady and Manning bolted for the CFL because the NFL was bankrupt. Although not noted in the book, the situation has improved on the football pitch and financially because after a four year hiatus, Ronaldo announced that he is returning to Real Madrid. If Messi decided to spend the twilight of his career back in Barcelona, that would bring both men full circle, ending two decades of dominance in the place where they started.
Today I am on Team Messi only because I always cheer for the elder statesmen of sports. Once all these icons retire and there are no contemporaries of mine left competing, it will be harder for me to relate to professional sports, as I find myself more and more calling most of the competing athletes by the endearing term “kid.” Just as in my childhood cheering on Michael Jordan and the last twenty years being firmly entrenched on Team Brady, Ronaldo and Messi are beyond generational talents. They are international icons who drive the sport both on the field and at the bank. Seeing how they have modernized football into a 21st century game has been a thrilling ride. I just hope the World Cup final today is as thrilling as Ronaldo and Messi clash at the height of their careers.
⚽️ 4 stars ⚽️
December 15, 2022
Discussions and debates about the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of a particular sport are common today and in international soccer circles, that discussion today revolves around two players – Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo. Strong cases can be made for both players and this book, while very interesting, does not help someone make a case for one or the other to be considered better.
The first bit of advice for reading this book comes early – the authors state that this is not intended to be a dual biography of the two legends but instead a thorough look at their careers from playing the game early in life through their rise to their professional teams by examining the business side of international soccer and how it affected them. There is in-depth information on the two clubs that both players spent the bulk of their careers, and it is no coincidence that they are two of the most famous clubs in European soccer – Real Madrid (Ronaldo) and FC Barcelona (Messi). Because of both the celebrity of the players and the name recognition of their clubs, Messi and Ronaldo’s rise in fame also helped bring a revolution in the business of international soccer.
Of course, the authors write about other factors that brought this about such as social media and the influx of money, especially American money, that changed the economics for many of the “super clubs” forever, but no matter what business topic is discussed, the text will circle back to one of these two players. A reader who follows soccer leagues such as the Premier League (both players spent time with clubs in that circuit) or La Liga will find the business discussion quite interesting. One who may not follow this subject as closely may not be as engrossed but will still learn some very interesting facts on international soccer.
I will give an example of one that I learned about the Premier League. Its status as one of the most profitable leagues in the world started when it signed a lucrative television contract with a similarly struggling network at the time, Sky Sports, owned by Rupert Murdoch. Around the same time in the United States, another struggling Murdoch network, Fox, engaged in a similar contract with the National Football League. Both leagues and both networks were never the same again.
This is not to say there is no text on the accomplishments on the field by Messi and Ronaldo – there is a good amount of that as well. There certainly was jealousy between the two in competition for individual awards. Even the most casual of sports fans do realize the greatness of these two as their names are as recognizable as ones like Pele and Beckenbauer for previous generations of soccer fans. If one wants to learn more about either the business of international soccer or a little more on the two players, this is a good source.
I wish to thank Mariner Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
The first bit of advice for reading this book comes early – the authors state that this is not intended to be a dual biography of the two legends but instead a thorough look at their careers from playing the game early in life through their rise to their professional teams by examining the business side of international soccer and how it affected them. There is in-depth information on the two clubs that both players spent the bulk of their careers, and it is no coincidence that they are two of the most famous clubs in European soccer – Real Madrid (Ronaldo) and FC Barcelona (Messi). Because of both the celebrity of the players and the name recognition of their clubs, Messi and Ronaldo’s rise in fame also helped bring a revolution in the business of international soccer.
Of course, the authors write about other factors that brought this about such as social media and the influx of money, especially American money, that changed the economics for many of the “super clubs” forever, but no matter what business topic is discussed, the text will circle back to one of these two players. A reader who follows soccer leagues such as the Premier League (both players spent time with clubs in that circuit) or La Liga will find the business discussion quite interesting. One who may not follow this subject as closely may not be as engrossed but will still learn some very interesting facts on international soccer.
I will give an example of one that I learned about the Premier League. Its status as one of the most profitable leagues in the world started when it signed a lucrative television contract with a similarly struggling network at the time, Sky Sports, owned by Rupert Murdoch. Around the same time in the United States, another struggling Murdoch network, Fox, engaged in a similar contract with the National Football League. Both leagues and both networks were never the same again.
This is not to say there is no text on the accomplishments on the field by Messi and Ronaldo – there is a good amount of that as well. There certainly was jealousy between the two in competition for individual awards. Even the most casual of sports fans do realize the greatness of these two as their names are as recognizable as ones like Pele and Beckenbauer for previous generations of soccer fans. If one wants to learn more about either the business of international soccer or a little more on the two players, this is a good source.
I wish to thank Mariner Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
December 14, 2022
No one has ever accused me of being a soccer fan which makes this book an unusual choice for me. It’s a great read that not only covers the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo but paints the soccer world as a crazy soap opera where the only romance is between each player and himself.
Very thoroughly researched with funny anecdotes, it was a very eye-opening and entertaining read. This book is largely about the business side of soccer and the impact of “NFL style” marketing, social media, Covid-19, wealthy oil investors, and budget mismanagement. If the business side of soccer sounds boring, it isn’t.
There were a lot of names thrown around…so many that I almost felt like I needed to create a list of all the people involved. I enjoyed the ancillary stories such as the sibling rivalry between the two brothers that created Adidas and Puma.
After finishing the epilogue, I saw that Argentina beat Croatia in the World Cup semifinal to advance to the final. I wonder if the authors would tweak the epilogue in hindsight.
Thank you to Goodreads for this advance reader copy. I was a Goodreads giveaway winner.
Very thoroughly researched with funny anecdotes, it was a very eye-opening and entertaining read. This book is largely about the business side of soccer and the impact of “NFL style” marketing, social media, Covid-19, wealthy oil investors, and budget mismanagement. If the business side of soccer sounds boring, it isn’t.
There were a lot of names thrown around…so many that I almost felt like I needed to create a list of all the people involved. I enjoyed the ancillary stories such as the sibling rivalry between the two brothers that created Adidas and Puma.
After finishing the epilogue, I saw that Argentina beat Croatia in the World Cup semifinal to advance to the final. I wonder if the authors would tweak the epilogue in hindsight.
Thank you to Goodreads for this advance reader copy. I was a Goodreads giveaway winner.
February 6, 2025
An interesting look at the origin and completion of this famous rivalry. Those that are familiar with European football will especially appreciate the details in this book.
September 3, 2025
i don't know enough about sports to know whether this was a comprehensive read but i certainly learned a lot! went in just wanting to know about messi and now i could probably run a small football club
December 6, 2022
Messi vs Ronaldo : One Rivalry, Two Goats, and the Era That Remade the World’s Game (2022) by Jonathan Clegg and Joshua Robinson follows on from the two author’s very good book ‘The Club’ on the Premier League and this time looks at the careers of Ronaldo and Messi.
The book is in three sections, Two Geniuses, Greatest(s) of All Time and Twilight of the Gods. In the first the rise of the two players is chronicled. In the second their time in La Liga together is described. Finally in Twilight of the Gods the aging of the two masters and them leaving La Liga is covered.
Messi vs Ronaldo concentrates on the business of the game and how the two superstars made their money. It’s surprising how little there is on their incredible performances and how they contrast. This is interesting, but for fans who are looking for more on how the actual game changed with Messi and Ronaldo and even how, to an extent, even at their best teams were still more important than the stars the book will be lacking. The Spanish National Team and the German National team’s styles that mostly bested Argentina and Portugal are worth noting.
Messi and Ronaldo would make a wonderful TV series on Netflix in the way that Michael Jordan has been featured. Their long careers and how football evolved at the time would be better presented that way. Gegenpressing isn’t mentioned in the book. Real Madrid’s counter attacking style is mentioned. Guardiola and Mourinho are also described.
It would have been worthwhile to look at how refereeing has changed that helped Messi and Ronaldo. Maradona was kicked so hard and so often during his career and the contrast to Messi and Ronaldo who were treated much better is worth noting.
Messi vs Ronaldo is an interesting book for looking at the way La Liga defied the money flowing into The Premier League for a while, until, as the authors write, even more money came in from Oil wealth into Manchester City and PSG. The impact of Covid 19 on football and the mismanagement of Barcelona also get discussed. Instagram followers and the impact of social media on the players is interesting to read about.
The two players both missing out on a World Cup win, unless either wins in 2022 is also noted and discussed.
Messi vs Ronaldo is a well written book about the business side of soccer and how it relates to two of the greatest players of all time. Unfortunately for many soccer fans there will be too much business and not enough soccer in the book. For anyone interested in the economics of sports it’s a great read.
The book is in three sections, Two Geniuses, Greatest(s) of All Time and Twilight of the Gods. In the first the rise of the two players is chronicled. In the second their time in La Liga together is described. Finally in Twilight of the Gods the aging of the two masters and them leaving La Liga is covered.
Messi vs Ronaldo concentrates on the business of the game and how the two superstars made their money. It’s surprising how little there is on their incredible performances and how they contrast. This is interesting, but for fans who are looking for more on how the actual game changed with Messi and Ronaldo and even how, to an extent, even at their best teams were still more important than the stars the book will be lacking. The Spanish National Team and the German National team’s styles that mostly bested Argentina and Portugal are worth noting.
Messi and Ronaldo would make a wonderful TV series on Netflix in the way that Michael Jordan has been featured. Their long careers and how football evolved at the time would be better presented that way. Gegenpressing isn’t mentioned in the book. Real Madrid’s counter attacking style is mentioned. Guardiola and Mourinho are also described.
It would have been worthwhile to look at how refereeing has changed that helped Messi and Ronaldo. Maradona was kicked so hard and so often during his career and the contrast to Messi and Ronaldo who were treated much better is worth noting.
Messi vs Ronaldo is an interesting book for looking at the way La Liga defied the money flowing into The Premier League for a while, until, as the authors write, even more money came in from Oil wealth into Manchester City and PSG. The impact of Covid 19 on football and the mismanagement of Barcelona also get discussed. Instagram followers and the impact of social media on the players is interesting to read about.
The two players both missing out on a World Cup win, unless either wins in 2022 is also noted and discussed.
Messi vs Ronaldo is a well written book about the business side of soccer and how it relates to two of the greatest players of all time. Unfortunately for many soccer fans there will be too much business and not enough soccer in the book. For anyone interested in the economics of sports it’s a great read.
December 23, 2022
Perfect time to read this after watching Messi lift the World Cup - an appropriate end to their rivalry. The book has some nice personal insights from the ups and downs in the two players’ careers and chronicles the latest financial craziness in soccer that pairs with the twilight of the Messi/Ronaldo era. I enjoy these two authors and look forward to their next book!
December 19, 2022
At first I was very skeptical of this book. Everybody knows everything about these two giants of the footballing world. Messi and his humble yet magical demeanor; Ronaldo’s unbreakable confidence. I was worried this book would wouldn’t contain any new information. I was wrong though. Messi vs Ronaldo is a wonderful chronicle of the journey of the two GOATs of the game. It is the perfect reading for the post World Cup reader; one who wants to look back at the rivalry that changed global football forever
January 15, 2023
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Messi and Ronaldo have become such an omnipresent part of sports that I knew who they were even before I started getting into soccer in the last year. I hadn't seen them play, I didn't know their statistics, but I knew that they were good, and possibly the greatest of all time. As I got into soccer and started spending some time doing research about the game, I discovered just how good the two players were, and how much they dominated their sport.
Reading this book felt like a very good primer for someone like me - a person just getting into soccer and wanting to know more about it. I learned a great deal from it, and while I doubt that their army of fans would discover anything new, I would imagine this is one of the first times that all this information has been collected into one specific book. I could very well be wrong about that.
One of the best things that this book has going for it was that it presented the two of them in rivalry, even when they weren't. Additionally, the focus on how they remade soccer's monetary model was eye opening. Clegg did a great job of zooming in and out on the players and their ripple effects on the game and business of soccer. One of the most interesting parts of this book was how Clegg approached both superstars and their approach to the fans and media. The players both present in different ways, Ronaldo as a preening superstar, wanting the world to know about him, while Messi is quiet and just wants to play soccer. However, Clegg was able to strip away some of the image they've presented to find the similarities between the two personalities and recognize that what we see may not be the truth about each player.
Overall, a very enjoyable book that is written in an engaging style.
Messi and Ronaldo have become such an omnipresent part of sports that I knew who they were even before I started getting into soccer in the last year. I hadn't seen them play, I didn't know their statistics, but I knew that they were good, and possibly the greatest of all time. As I got into soccer and started spending some time doing research about the game, I discovered just how good the two players were, and how much they dominated their sport.
Reading this book felt like a very good primer for someone like me - a person just getting into soccer and wanting to know more about it. I learned a great deal from it, and while I doubt that their army of fans would discover anything new, I would imagine this is one of the first times that all this information has been collected into one specific book. I could very well be wrong about that.
One of the best things that this book has going for it was that it presented the two of them in rivalry, even when they weren't. Additionally, the focus on how they remade soccer's monetary model was eye opening. Clegg did a great job of zooming in and out on the players and their ripple effects on the game and business of soccer. One of the most interesting parts of this book was how Clegg approached both superstars and their approach to the fans and media. The players both present in different ways, Ronaldo as a preening superstar, wanting the world to know about him, while Messi is quiet and just wants to play soccer. However, Clegg was able to strip away some of the image they've presented to find the similarities between the two personalities and recognize that what we see may not be the truth about each player.
Overall, a very enjoyable book that is written in an engaging style.
dnf
November 2, 2022DNF @ around 50%. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, where we were learning about how both of these men grew up and how they managed to get to the Premier League. I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and am super bummed that I just couldn’t stick with it. After the first section, there were just too many details of specific matches, of shoe companies and sponsorships, and a lot of names. I got so bogged down in the details, that I dreaded picking this up, so I’m done.
This is by no means the fault of the book. I picked this up knowing that I know little about soccer. I was hoping to get a better understanding since I am a new fan and am trying to learn more in order to converse with my husband. This was just not the book to do this with. The book already assumes that you know the basics about Messi and Ronaldo, and I didn’t. It assumes you know who all of the major people they talk about are, and I didn’t. It’s not a book for beginners, but I’m sure it garners a lot of new, interesting information for those that are already fans and more acclimated to the game and its participants, than I am.
This is by no means the fault of the book. I picked this up knowing that I know little about soccer. I was hoping to get a better understanding since I am a new fan and am trying to learn more in order to converse with my husband. This was just not the book to do this with. The book already assumes that you know the basics about Messi and Ronaldo, and I didn’t. It assumes you know who all of the major people they talk about are, and I didn’t. It’s not a book for beginners, but I’m sure it garners a lot of new, interesting information for those that are already fans and more acclimated to the game and its participants, than I am.
December 24, 2022
(Audiobook) (4.5 stars) Interesting that I would read this book right before the World Cup Final where Messi led Argentina to a World Cup Championship over France (3-3, 4-2 penalties) where Messi scored two in-game goals and hit one of 4 penalties for Argentina in the shootout. This was the same tournament where Ronaldo would only score one goal on a penalty in the group stage before Portugal fell to Morocco in the Quarterfinals. The book finished up before the World Cup, and before the tumultuous 2022 for Cristiano Ronaldo. Still, looking at these two players is to look at the greatest player vs. player rivalry in football, and arguably one of the top rivalries in all of sports.
Both men got their start as so many soccer stars do, from humble beginnings where they fell in love with the soccer ball, and drove themselves to use their talents to rise to the top of their respective professions. While soccer does not set up for mano a mano engagements, these two would compete for the top spot in the sport. That they spend the prime of their careers on rival teams in Spain only adds to the legend between the two. The reporting of this work does much to help the reader learn about these two mega-stars. Even in America, which is far from soccer mad, most have heard the names of Rolando and Messi, but many do not know the full tales. It is quite the sports tale, and one that most Americans could easily compare with Bird vs. Magic in the NBA or Everett vs. Navratilova or Federer vs. Nadal in Tennis.
Both came to define greatness in soccer, yet this work makes it clear that while both acknowledged the skill and challenge of one another, it wasn’t the overt driver of each’s quest for glory. Still, that they drove each other even subconsciously is a key part of the tale. Would Cristiano Ronaldo ever have achieved what he did if not pressed by Messi, and would Messi have pushed his game without Ronaldo being at his heels? Without one or the other, each would have been a great player, but transcendent? Unknown.
In this well-written account, you will learn about the men, but also things that shoot through the myths associated with them. I always figured Ronaldo arrogant and selfish, and he is, but he was also far more instrumental for Portugal in their 2016 European Championship. Even when he got subbed out after 20 mins due to injury, his leadership on the sideline was actually critical, as he amplified the coach’s directions (the manager having lost his voice). He was a real team leader, not just for his stellar play, but actually leading the team. Messi, while seen as less self-centered, can be just as arrogant and cutting. He is perhaps one of the best trash-talkers out there (a side he usually keeps contained, but did come out in the past World Cup against the Dutch).
You don’t have to be a soccer fan to appreciate the comparative biography these two WSJ writers put out. In fact, it is written more for the American audience that isn’t as familiar with the tale of these two. Still, I suspect there will have to be an addendum in the years ahead, to account for the later stages of both player’s careers, from Messi World Cup, to Ronaldo’s collapse at Man U…to whatever the final years of Messi hold, to say nothing of the post-playing careers
Both men got their start as so many soccer stars do, from humble beginnings where they fell in love with the soccer ball, and drove themselves to use their talents to rise to the top of their respective professions. While soccer does not set up for mano a mano engagements, these two would compete for the top spot in the sport. That they spend the prime of their careers on rival teams in Spain only adds to the legend between the two. The reporting of this work does much to help the reader learn about these two mega-stars. Even in America, which is far from soccer mad, most have heard the names of Rolando and Messi, but many do not know the full tales. It is quite the sports tale, and one that most Americans could easily compare with Bird vs. Magic in the NBA or Everett vs. Navratilova or Federer vs. Nadal in Tennis.
Both came to define greatness in soccer, yet this work makes it clear that while both acknowledged the skill and challenge of one another, it wasn’t the overt driver of each’s quest for glory. Still, that they drove each other even subconsciously is a key part of the tale. Would Cristiano Ronaldo ever have achieved what he did if not pressed by Messi, and would Messi have pushed his game without Ronaldo being at his heels? Without one or the other, each would have been a great player, but transcendent? Unknown.
In this well-written account, you will learn about the men, but also things that shoot through the myths associated with them. I always figured Ronaldo arrogant and selfish, and he is, but he was also far more instrumental for Portugal in their 2016 European Championship. Even when he got subbed out after 20 mins due to injury, his leadership on the sideline was actually critical, as he amplified the coach’s directions (the manager having lost his voice). He was a real team leader, not just for his stellar play, but actually leading the team. Messi, while seen as less self-centered, can be just as arrogant and cutting. He is perhaps one of the best trash-talkers out there (a side he usually keeps contained, but did come out in the past World Cup against the Dutch).
You don’t have to be a soccer fan to appreciate the comparative biography these two WSJ writers put out. In fact, it is written more for the American audience that isn’t as familiar with the tale of these two. Still, I suspect there will have to be an addendum in the years ahead, to account for the later stages of both player’s careers, from Messi World Cup, to Ronaldo’s collapse at Man U…to whatever the final years of Messi hold, to say nothing of the post-playing careers
March 17, 2024
Did I enjoy this read and getting to go in depth in two the two greatest players in soccer history? Yes
Did it make me sad that the game I grew up loving has completely changed and will never be the same again? Most definitely
Did it make me sad that the game I grew up loving has completely changed and will never be the same again? Most definitely
January 10, 2024
Informative, witty, and enjoyable. Titans of the world's greatest game.
January 17, 2024
Florentino Perez is the star of this book. Found myself so impressed with the way he operates his behemoth of an institution
January 3, 2026
No mention of Fred in a conversation about GOATs, both mid and washed.
August 8, 2022
In "Messi vs. Ronaldo," authors Clegg and Robinson take on the story of two mythical living legends of football (soccer), and do it in compelling, insightful reading that makes for a book that you won't put down. It a must-read for any football fan and an excellent primer for someone who's not familiar with el logo bonito but has surely heard of Messi and Ronaldo. The reporting skill that the authors possess is richly displayed in the writing about these two mysterious leviathans of football. Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the opportunity to preview this book. #MessivsRonaldo #NetGalley #MarinerBooks
April 2, 2023
A brilliant 5-star first half followed by an ordinary second act. The final impressions are largely dependent on other books on the topic you have read. And since I haven't read much on the beginning of Messi and Ronaldo's career, the initial part was a great read. The second one has three major flaws – you remember a lot of the stuff from the not-that-distant past, you feel sad about the last act of their careers and you question the decision of not writing this book a half year later when it would have the most epic conclusions of all.
January 1, 2024
Omg so much fun reading this book! I learned a lot about both players even though I’ll always be #teammessi 🩵🤍🇦🇷
May 8, 2023
This was my Christmas book for Krishna last year. I always enjoy reading biographies of sports greats and also learning about the business of various leagues - this book delivered on both. 4-star since you didn’t get a deep sense for either player - what they’re like and how they’re wired/motivated (which would have been hard given the structure, but I always love). Key disjointed takeaways:
(1) I regret not watching more club soccer in the last 15 years given that these two (particularly Messi) truly seem like all-time greats and I am sad I missed the beauty - esp of the glory years of Barca. Have been watching a lot of YouTube goals.
(2) The people that run these clubs are seemingly very bad business people or just have very short-term incentives. Their valuation of assets seems non-rigorous to say the least and the clubs seem to be on the brink of failure all the time. Man U seems different but the book didn’t share enough info to say that with confidence.
(3) The amount of profligate spenders who’ve infiltrated the game (mainly Middle Eastern and Chinese actors) seems like a huge net negative on the sport. Not only have they bid up prices on assets to crazy levels but they also are not at all motivated to break even, so they’re skewing the very laissez-faire business to a race to the bottom. Seems like the era of homegrown talent is out and so many of these huge signings don’t pan out.
(4) Relatedly, it’s so interesting to contrast European soccer to American sports leagues. American leagues run as socialist cartels in order to maximize the total league value for owners. European soccer is as capitalist as it can get, but again with these distorting actors who are not value maximizing so profits are not maximized? I’m sure I’m missing something…
(5) There seem to be some learnings around superstars/rivalries as part of a team vs individual (e.g. tennis) but I don’t know enough to compare these guys to Lebron or others to understand the meaningful differences in wealth generated, power vis a vis club owners or leagues, etc. vs. the NBA, NFL, tennis, etc.
(6) Clearly soccer is the most important and loved sport in the world, but the amounts of money mentioned are still shocking.
(7) Lastly, very curious to see how things evolve from here. With teams like Man City and PSG and others operating with a different economic framework and the Spanish clubs really struggling to figure out their new formula - how does the Champions League competition change? Should there be a super league? The country league structure has so many flaws, it seems. The fact that things are so dynamic and could change (even the fact that international competition has dimmed in prestige in the last couple decades) is both unsettling to me and very interesting - so much tradition yet so much fluidity.
Basically, I left with lots of questions and so much more to learn. Many soccer documentaries in my Netflix queue :)
(1) I regret not watching more club soccer in the last 15 years given that these two (particularly Messi) truly seem like all-time greats and I am sad I missed the beauty - esp of the glory years of Barca. Have been watching a lot of YouTube goals.
(2) The people that run these clubs are seemingly very bad business people or just have very short-term incentives. Their valuation of assets seems non-rigorous to say the least and the clubs seem to be on the brink of failure all the time. Man U seems different but the book didn’t share enough info to say that with confidence.
(3) The amount of profligate spenders who’ve infiltrated the game (mainly Middle Eastern and Chinese actors) seems like a huge net negative on the sport. Not only have they bid up prices on assets to crazy levels but they also are not at all motivated to break even, so they’re skewing the very laissez-faire business to a race to the bottom. Seems like the era of homegrown talent is out and so many of these huge signings don’t pan out.
(4) Relatedly, it’s so interesting to contrast European soccer to American sports leagues. American leagues run as socialist cartels in order to maximize the total league value for owners. European soccer is as capitalist as it can get, but again with these distorting actors who are not value maximizing so profits are not maximized? I’m sure I’m missing something…
(5) There seem to be some learnings around superstars/rivalries as part of a team vs individual (e.g. tennis) but I don’t know enough to compare these guys to Lebron or others to understand the meaningful differences in wealth generated, power vis a vis club owners or leagues, etc. vs. the NBA, NFL, tennis, etc.
(6) Clearly soccer is the most important and loved sport in the world, but the amounts of money mentioned are still shocking.
(7) Lastly, very curious to see how things evolve from here. With teams like Man City and PSG and others operating with a different economic framework and the Spanish clubs really struggling to figure out their new formula - how does the Champions League competition change? Should there be a super league? The country league structure has so many flaws, it seems. The fact that things are so dynamic and could change (even the fact that international competition has dimmed in prestige in the last couple decades) is both unsettling to me and very interesting - so much tradition yet so much fluidity.
Basically, I left with lots of questions and so much more to learn. Many soccer documentaries in my Netflix queue :)
December 20, 2024
This debate is one of my favorite. It is immune to new information, no matter its gravity. Whatever your answer was initially, it remains the same and anyone claiming otherwise is an apostate, possibly lacking a brain that understands football. Who is the football GOAT between Messi and CR7? I usually answer Messi and then go into a heated argument with whoever I am arguing with at that time, neither of us ever leaving this argument convinced that their choice is wrong.
The authors of this book took us through the journey of both players from their formative years all through their peak to their now twilight years when new kings are vying for the throne. I liked the story especially since I lived through most of the years covered and remember what the stories were when they were fresh off the printers. It is a measured take that covers club dynamics and the business of football as well as our protagonists' stories. Since I am biased on who is the GOAT, I will not bother with that debate in this review.
My qualms with the book are seemingly minor but I feel they have merit. The first one being calling it "soccer." If you call it that you shouldn't be speaking matters football and unless the book was aimed purely at an American audience, it should have been called football. I also did not like that Messi and CR were mostly described in platitudes. They are also mere mortals and sometime it shouldn't be a whisper campaign that Ronaldinho used to party a lot or Jordan was a degenerate gambler...you gotta love HBO documentaries on how they never shy from the dark side. It is part of the story and should be told.Still a good book through and through that should be read by any football fan.
The authors of this book took us through the journey of both players from their formative years all through their peak to their now twilight years when new kings are vying for the throne. I liked the story especially since I lived through most of the years covered and remember what the stories were when they were fresh off the printers. It is a measured take that covers club dynamics and the business of football as well as our protagonists' stories. Since I am biased on who is the GOAT, I will not bother with that debate in this review.
My qualms with the book are seemingly minor but I feel they have merit. The first one being calling it "soccer." If you call it that you shouldn't be speaking matters football and unless the book was aimed purely at an American audience, it should have been called football. I also did not like that Messi and CR were mostly described in platitudes. They are also mere mortals and sometime it shouldn't be a whisper campaign that Ronaldinho used to party a lot or Jordan was a degenerate gambler...you gotta love HBO documentaries on how they never shy from the dark side. It is part of the story and should be told.Still a good book through and through that should be read by any football fan.
November 20, 2023
A nice fill-in-the-blanks deep dive for _the_ sporting rivalry that has dominated my football watching years. What I enjoyed most is that the authors pretty much avoided waxing lyrical about the greatness of these 2 players on the pitch, and focused solely on the business, media and corporate forces that shifted and emerged through the Messi-Ronaldo era.
This book is worth the read even just to get an evolving profile of Florentino Perez, how he became rich, and his tenure as El Presidente of Real Madrid. More details about the Ronaldo and Messi entourages as well as the financial debacle that is post-Messi FC Barcelona was also worth the time.
I bet the authors are absolutely rueing publishing this book in the spring of 2022, thinking that the story of these 2 GOATs was about to finish.
Ronaldo went to the Saudi League, pioneering that as a path for professional footballers at a particular stage of their careers and somewhat legitimizing that league, which kicked off the wildest spending summer transfer window I can remember.
Messi got the ultimate fairytale ending, winning the World Cup in one of the greatest football matches ever. He then moved to David Beckham owned Inter Miami in a one-of-a-kind deal cosigned by all MLS clubs and Apple.
There is still so much meat on the bone for the authors to write a follow up about the global financial, political and media impacts of the late-stage GOAT era, and the story still continues.
This book is worth the read even just to get an evolving profile of Florentino Perez, how he became rich, and his tenure as El Presidente of Real Madrid. More details about the Ronaldo and Messi entourages as well as the financial debacle that is post-Messi FC Barcelona was also worth the time.
I bet the authors are absolutely rueing publishing this book in the spring of 2022, thinking that the story of these 2 GOATs was about to finish.
Ronaldo went to the Saudi League, pioneering that as a path for professional footballers at a particular stage of their careers and somewhat legitimizing that league, which kicked off the wildest spending summer transfer window I can remember.
Messi got the ultimate fairytale ending, winning the World Cup in one of the greatest football matches ever. He then moved to David Beckham owned Inter Miami in a one-of-a-kind deal cosigned by all MLS clubs and Apple.
There is still so much meat on the bone for the authors to write a follow up about the global financial, political and media impacts of the late-stage GOAT era, and the story still continues.
February 10, 2024
As someone who has spent two decades of her life watching football, I can say that Messi and Ronaldo have both been great players fueled by their grit, talent, skills, genius, and passion for the beautiful game. This book has been entertaining, insightful, witty, and informative. However, you’ll have to excuse me, if the 20-year-old me would say that she’s still going to choose Ronaldo over Messi. It’s the Red Manc and Madridista in me.
In the future, though, I hope to pick up a book and read about other Titans who exist during this whole Messi and Ronaldo era. I mean, we have seen the likes of Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Ramos, Fernando Torres, Drogba, Rooney, RVP, Kroos, Luka Modric, etc. They all have amazing skills that deserved to be written and talked about too. Anyone who’s ever seen the EUROS in 2018 could tell you that Torres started the plot toward Spanish domination in football or like how Iniesta and Xavi were the ones who actually assisted and aided Messi in their prime Barca years or like how RVP scored that immortalized header in Brazil World Cup against Spain or how Kroos dictates Madrid’s pacing and how he scored that physics-defying goal against Sweden or how Luka Modric led Croatia to the World Cup and almost won the world cup for his country. The point is, there are other greats too. Not just Messi or Ronaldo.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. HAHAHAHA.
In the future, though, I hope to pick up a book and read about other Titans who exist during this whole Messi and Ronaldo era. I mean, we have seen the likes of Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Ramos, Fernando Torres, Drogba, Rooney, RVP, Kroos, Luka Modric, etc. They all have amazing skills that deserved to be written and talked about too. Anyone who’s ever seen the EUROS in 2018 could tell you that Torres started the plot toward Spanish domination in football or like how Iniesta and Xavi were the ones who actually assisted and aided Messi in their prime Barca years or like how RVP scored that immortalized header in Brazil World Cup against Spain or how Kroos dictates Madrid’s pacing and how he scored that physics-defying goal against Sweden or how Luka Modric led Croatia to the World Cup and almost won the world cup for his country. The point is, there are other greats too. Not just Messi or Ronaldo.
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. HAHAHAHA.
April 16, 2023
Lionel Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina, a fairly large city in Argentina while Crstiano Ronaldo was born on an island miles away from the coast of Portugal.
Their Paths might've never crossed if they just hadn't been the most gifted players of their generation and played soccer in an era in which the world as we know it was changing.
Ronaldo doesn't move to Real Madrid until 2009, yet there's an entire chaoter dedicated to Real Madrid's finances from the 90s until Ronaldo got signed.
It felt like there were very few moment dedicated to the rivalry.
There were facts that were new to me. and some events felt like a refresher.
Not a text important to the rivalry unless you care about how money shaped it.
Their Paths might've never crossed if they just hadn't been the most gifted players of their generation and played soccer in an era in which the world as we know it was changing.
Ronaldo doesn't move to Real Madrid until 2009, yet there's an entire chaoter dedicated to Real Madrid's finances from the 90s until Ronaldo got signed.
It felt like there were very few moment dedicated to the rivalry.
There were facts that were new to me. and some events felt like a refresher.
Not a text important to the rivalry unless you care about how money shaped it.
July 17, 2024
Nostalgic retelling of the career of two of football greatest and their real/perceived rivalry. And how that rivalry shaped and changed football. Really enjoyed reading and thinking back to those unreal nights of football delivered by both players.
As a Real Madrid fan, feel like the situation post-Ronaldo was painted with a bit of negative brush, ignoring the fact that Madrid actually managed to sell Ronaldo on time, won the champions league soon after and did it with a bunch of exciting young players. One of them is now a serious ballon d’or candidate (Vini). I understand leaving that out allows the authors to make their point, but I think they could have made it even if they had mentioned it.
As a Real Madrid fan, feel like the situation post-Ronaldo was painted with a bit of negative brush, ignoring the fact that Madrid actually managed to sell Ronaldo on time, won the champions league soon after and did it with a bunch of exciting young players. One of them is now a serious ballon d’or candidate (Vini). I understand leaving that out allows the authors to make their point, but I think they could have made it even if they had mentioned it.
July 27, 2025
Messi.
In all seriousness. This book was an above average read. It’s separated in 3 parts. Essentially the early life (before they joined Barca/ManU), then their prime years, then their later parts of their careers.
My main gripe with the book is that it doesn’t focus on Messi/Ronaldo majority of the book. It focuses more on the business impact they had on their teams and the league. A lot of chapters went on to talk about the presidents of both Madrid and Barca. I feel like the title of the book could have definitely been different and not “Messi vs Ronaldo”.
It was fun finding out the drama of their shoe deals, the impact of covid-19 on the soccer world, and the history of both of their agents trying to maximize the amount of money their player would get. Still a good read.
In all seriousness. This book was an above average read. It’s separated in 3 parts. Essentially the early life (before they joined Barca/ManU), then their prime years, then their later parts of their careers.
My main gripe with the book is that it doesn’t focus on Messi/Ronaldo majority of the book. It focuses more on the business impact they had on their teams and the league. A lot of chapters went on to talk about the presidents of both Madrid and Barca. I feel like the title of the book could have definitely been different and not “Messi vs Ronaldo”.
It was fun finding out the drama of their shoe deals, the impact of covid-19 on the soccer world, and the history of both of their agents trying to maximize the amount of money their player would get. Still a good read.
January 14, 2024
I loved this book but then I am very interested in European soccer and especially in Messi since I am an FC Barcelona fan. These authors are great writers who made the business side of football readable and interesting. It doesn't try to answer the question of which man is the GOAT - Greatest of All Time- Messi or Ronaldo. Naturally, as a Barca fan, I am sure it is Messi but I recognize that Ronaldo is fantastic too. I loved reading their stories as they both came from humble beginnings with a natural gift that has made them two of the richest athletes in the world. And I am glad to have been able to watch both of them play.
January 21, 2024
To nie jest książka o karierach piłkarskich dwóch ultra świetnych sportowców.
To jest książka o tym, jak doszli do swojej chwały i jak potrafią ją monetyzować.
Jak radzą sobie z fortuną, ale też jakie problemy z nią mają. Bo Ronaldo i Messi poza byciem najlepszymi w swojej dyscyplinie mieli również problemy ze skarbówką chociażby. Ich wielomilionowe kontrakty i umowy sponsorskie nieraz były (i są do dzisiaj właściwie) tematami na pierwsze strony gazet.
Książka jest dobrze napisana, pełna ciekawostek, o których nie usłyszy się codziennie. To spojrzenie na sportowców z zupełnie innej strony. To spojrzenie na biznesmenów.
To jest książka o tym, jak doszli do swojej chwały i jak potrafią ją monetyzować.
Jak radzą sobie z fortuną, ale też jakie problemy z nią mają. Bo Ronaldo i Messi poza byciem najlepszymi w swojej dyscyplinie mieli również problemy ze skarbówką chociażby. Ich wielomilionowe kontrakty i umowy sponsorskie nieraz były (i są do dzisiaj właściwie) tematami na pierwsze strony gazet.
Książka jest dobrze napisana, pełna ciekawostek, o których nie usłyszy się codziennie. To spojrzenie na sportowców z zupełnie innej strony. To spojrzenie na biznesmenów.
October 22, 2023
I am a huge fan of these two authors writing together on soccer. Their last book on the English Premier League was outstanding and this one might be even better. However, this book cannot have five stars simply because they did not hold off finishing until after the 2022 World Cup. It is somewhat disappointing to read a book on the narrative of Messi vs. Ronaldo at the individual, club, and international level without concluding the entire story at Messi's World Cup trophy. Aside from excluding the World Cup this is a great book that is easy to read and difficult to put down.
April 20, 2024
My son is loves football and at first i wanted to read this book together with him but it turned out to be a little difficult as he is just 7.
So I continued reading it by myself and found it to be extremely interesting and insightful. It was particularly interesting to learn about the dynamics between athletes, private club owners, governments and professional organisations. The definition of "market" and supply and demand comes to play.
I also related to my son the importance of perseverance, hard work and discipline as exemplified especially by Ronaldo.
So I continued reading it by myself and found it to be extremely interesting and insightful. It was particularly interesting to learn about the dynamics between athletes, private club owners, governments and professional organisations. The definition of "market" and supply and demand comes to play.
I also related to my son the importance of perseverance, hard work and discipline as exemplified especially by Ronaldo.
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