Cristiano Ronaldo, Humiliated by 'Messi' Chant After Portugal's Defeat Against DR Congo
Cristiano Ronaldo became emotional after their draw against DR Congo, as fans intensified their feud with Lionel Messi with 'Messi' chants.
The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has dominated the world of football for two decades, both at the club and international levels. In the opening week of the FIFA World Cup 2026, this issue flared up again even though there was no direct clash between them.
After Portugal's unexpected 1-1 draw against DR Congo this Wednesday, Cristiano Ronaldo noticeably left the pitch alone, full of frustration. As he approached the tunnel, chants of "Messi" rang out from the fans, adding to the tension fueled by the long-standing Ronaldo-Messi rivalry.
<figure style="margin:2rem 0;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid #e2e2e2;background:#f9f9f9"><img src="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/06/1408/814/1211be49-messi1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="Image" style="width:100%;height:auto;object-fit:contain" loading="lazy" /></figure>For more than a decade, Ronaldo and Messi have been at the center of debate as the best players of this generation. They pushed each other to break records and succeed with Barcelona and Real Madrid. In the current World Cup, the world continues to be compared—Messi was especially impressive in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria, where he scored a hat trick and tied the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring record.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo didn't record a goal or assist in the Portugal match—he managed just three in the entire game. For a rivalry dictated by talent on the biggest stage, the close comparison is noteworthy, especially as this could be Ronaldo's last chance to bring home the World Cup for Portugal. It was a difficult start for Ronaldo and Portugal, as shown by the results and the reaction of the fans.
