Soccer
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Akor Adams. Copyright: Imago
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been at the forefront of football glory since 2007, and even now, as their careers wind down, the argument about who’s greater seems to be never-ending, Soccernet.ng reports.
Messi, who turns 39 today, scored a hat-trick in his first 2026 FIFA World Cup game against Algeria to break Miroslave Klose’s all-time record at the Copa Mundial. Still, it appears Super Eagles striker Akor Adams has pitched his tent with Portuguese superstar Ronaldo.
The Argentine legend followed up with a double against Austria. Ronaldo was at the forefront of severe criticism following Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo a week ago.
However, the 41-year-old shut his critics up with a brace against Uzbekistan yesterday evening, yelling ‘I’m back’ in one of his celebrations.
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Soccer Ronaldo vs Messi – Has Akor Adams sided with one of the greats?
Before the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s opening game between South Africa and Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, the Super Eagles played against Portugal in a friendly encounter.
While Roberto Martinez’s men sealed a 2-1 win over the three-time African Champions, who were without key players like Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, Ronaldo didn’t have a good game.
The Al-Nassr striker missed three clear-cut chances, two of which were stopped by the in-demand Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was replaced by Goncalo Ramos after 64 minutes. In his time on the pitch, he exchanged words a few times with Akor Adams.
After the game, the duo were seen sharing a friendly embrace again, with the Sevilla striker evidently in awe of the highest goal scorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League.
Akor Adams with a fan. 🇳🇬🦅 pic.twitter.com/VsJgaxr0ZA
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) June 11, 2026
While Messi had taken all the plaudits for his performance in the first two games, Akor Adams took to his social media page to post a picture of himself with Cristiano Ronaldo, showing his support for the Portuguese superstar.
— Akor adams (@AkorjeromeAdams) June 23, 2026
In a previous interview, Akor refused to weigh in on the debate. Instead, he revealed he idolises the Brazilian Ronaldo.
“Honestly, there’s no player I fancy like Ronaldo Nazario. For me, he’s the best football player I have watched,” the former Montpellier striker told Sporty TV.
“I feel something when I watch him, and he is the greatest of all time for me. That’s all that matters for me,” Akor Adams concluded.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s teams have already secured a place in the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual CAF-Accredited sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
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