Lionel Messi’s ‘Ultimate’ Response After Cristiano Ronaldo Downplays FIFA World Cup Dream: ‘There’s Nothing More…’

Lionel Messi (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo)

Cristiano Ronaldo says he’s not losing sleep over potentially ending his playing career without winning the FIFA World Cup. Ronaldo is in the twilight of his professional career and despite five appearances at the World Cup, is yet to lay hands on the coveted trophy.

The FIFA World Cup is the only major trophy missing from his glittering career.

With his eternal rival Lionel Messi achieving his World Cup dream, is Ronaldo all the more itching to become a world champion?

Well, no.

That’s exactly what the Portuguese superstar said during an interview with Piers Morgan.

“If you ask me, Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup? No, it’s not a dream. To define if I’m one of the best of the history, to win one competition, [of] six games, seven games. You think it’s fair?” Ronaldo said.

On the other hand, Messi differs with Ronaldo and says winning the World Cup is the “ultimate achievement”.

“The truth is that explaining the feelings of that moment is difficult. It’s hard to put into words what that title meant, on a personal level, on a family level, for my teammates, and for the country. It was clear how the country celebrated, the need and the desire we had for it to happen again after so much time had passed,” Messi was quoted as saying by goal.com.

“For me it was special. First, because for a player, winning the World Cup is the ultimate achievement. It’s like anyone in their job, any professional reaching the top. There’s nothing more after the World Cup. You can’t ask for anything more. And on top of that, I had been lucky enough to have achieved everything before. At the club level, at the individual level. We had also won the Copa América with the national team. That was the missing piece. It was like closing out my entire career with that trophy,” he added.

Like Ronaldo, Messi too is in the final stage of his glorious career.

The 38-year-old said winning the World Cup gave him the same feeling when his children were born.

“When I won the World Cup at the professional level, like I said, I’m not comparing, but all things considered, I had the same feeling as when my children were born. A feeling that, well, I was lucky enough to experience, you know what it means, and it’s hard to explain what it feels like at that moment. It’s so special and so immense that everything that follows falls short,” he said.