Cristiano Ronaldo has asserted that winning the UEFA European Championship (Euros) is equivalent to Lionel Messi’s FIFA World Cup triumph. The Portuguese star reached a significant milestone by scoring his 900th career goal during Portugal’s 2-0 victory over Croatia.
At 39 years old, Ronaldo surpassed Messi to become the highest all-time career goal scorer. This achievement aligns with his previous statements about aiming to reach 1,000 career goals before his retirement.
In a recent interview with RTP3, Ronaldo equated his achievements with Messi’s, stating, “Portugal winning the Euros is the equivalent of winning the World Cup. I’ve already won two trophies for Portugal that I really wanted, so I’m not motivated by that [World Cup].”
Ronaldo’s triumph with Portugal in the 2016 Euros was marked by his emotional departure from the final due to injury, but he played a key role in supporting his team and manager Fernando Santos. He also captained Portugal to victory in the UEFA Nations League in 2019.
Meanwhile, Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, securing his eighth Ballon d’Or in the process. Ronaldo’s comparison has sparked debate about the relative significance of the Euros and the World Cup.