Messi is third, but in which place is Cristiano among the best athletes of the 21st century?

Football is the most followed sport in the world, and the best footballers are among the most popular athletes in the world. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two players and both football stars are continuing their careers at an age when multiple legends have retired. Messi and Ronaldo have won many prestigious awards and trophies over the years, such as the Champions League and league titles with some of the biggest European clubs.

Despite all of these accomplishments, Messi and Ronaldo are not among the best athletes in the 21st century, according to ESPN. The American sports company published the top 100 athletes in the 21st century from different kinds of sports. They named Lionel Messi as the third greatest athlete of the 21st century. On top of Messi are Serena Williams and Michael Phelps.

What was more shocking for football fans was where Ronaldo was placed on the list. The Portuguese striker was not even in the top ten. CR7 was in the top 15, and he was placed in the 13th position. Football fans believed that he should be higher since he is an overall athlete compared to many footballers, including Messi.

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Ronaldo and Messi are the only football players in the top 15, and they are arguably the two greatest football players of all time. Football fans believe that the two players should be ranked higher and closer together. Ronaldo and Messi have been at the top level for two decades.

The two are among the players who have won the most Ballon d’Or awards, which is a reward for the best player of the season or year. Ronaldo won five Ballon d’Or awards throughout his career. He won it in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and in 2017.

He won his first one at Manchester United, and the other four were won while playing for Real Madrid. Those years were during the prime of the Portuguese legend, who had been competing with Lionel Messi for many years. The two were easily the best players in world football.

Messi won eight Ballon d’Or awards throughout his career, with winning it in the previous Ballon d’Or ceremony. Messi won it in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and in 2023. Messi celebrated his recent Ballon d’Or at Inter Miami in the club’s stadium.

Lionel Messi hasn’t shown signs of retiring yet as he continues to win against Colombia with Argentina after winning the Copa America this past weekend. Ronaldo has impressed as well since he is 39 years old and has managed to be the top goalscorer of his team, Al Nassr, in the Saudi Pro League. He remains to be called up for the Portugal national team for the EUROS.

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What is next for Messi and Ronaldo?

After playing in the Copa America and the EUROS, respectively, Messi and Ronaldo will soon play for their clubs again. Messi suffered an injury in the Copa America final and will be out for six weeks. Ronaldo is currently on vacation with his family and is expected to join the Al Nassr team in a few weeks to prepare for the upcoming season.