The controversy between Barcelona star, Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Ronaldo never seems to die down. There is always a constant argument amongst football lovers about who is better of the two; and this controversy doesn’t seem to end between fans; it appears to exist even in governing football bodies.
Recently, FIFA’s President Sepp Blatter made a light-hearted jibe at the Portuguese superstar; although the Swiss moved to apologize and play down the controversy, the player feels the remarks are indicative of institutional bias.
When the 77 year-old chief was asked about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo by students at the Oxford University debate on Friday, Blatter said: “One spends more time at the hairdresser than the other, but I can’t say who is better. I like them both, but I prefer Messi”.
Ronaldo believes FIFA’s favoritism for Messi is undermining his legacy at Real Madrid and fears he will not win the Ballon d’Or again while Sepp Blatter remains in charge of football’s governing body; this might explain the fact why the Argentine star has won the award 4 times, and the Portuguese just once.
Ronaldo took to Twitter and Facebook by posting a video of the chief making fun of him.. “This video shows the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, my club and my country. Much is explained now. I wish Mr. Blatter health and a long life, with the certainty that he’ll continue to witness the successes of his favorite teams and players.”
Blatter later remarked, “I apologize if you were upset by my light-hearted answer”, he wrote to Ronaldo on Twitter. And the FIFA boss also sent an open letter to Madrid, claiming he thought that Messi and Cristiano were on the same level.
Like they say, ‘It’s a pity Ronaldo was born in Messi’s generation, and that myth is beginning to hold some truth in it’. Maybe Ronaldo would have been better appreciated if he wasn’t compared to anyone in his time.