Cristiano Ronaldo refused to answer questions about Lionel Messi following Portugal's 4-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Tuesday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 41-year-old forward, named man of the match after scoring his first two goals of the tournament, walked away from reporters in the mixed zone when asked about his Argentine rival.
Ronaldo dismisses Messi questions
After the match at Houston Stadium, Ronaldo was asked about Messi but quickly turned away and gestured for another reporter to speak. Video footage shows Ronaldo saying 'go ahead' repeatedly before the journalist finished the question. When a second reporter mentioned Messi's hat trick against Algeria, Ronaldo left the area, stating, 'I couldn't care less about the others.' He added, 'Kylian Mbappe also scored a goal.'
The incident was captured on social media, with one clip showing Ronaldo's dismissive reaction. According to reports, Ronaldo was happy to discuss his own performance and Portugal's win but had no interest in comparing himself to Messi.
Ronaldo and Messi at the 2026 World Cup
Ronaldo's two goals against Uzbekistan made him the first player to score in six different World Cups. He now has 10 tournament goals in 24 matches. Messi, meanwhile, has scored five goals in two games, breaking Miroslav Klose's record for most World Cup goals with 18. Messi's total is two more than Klose and Mbappe, who has 16 goals in 16 World Cup matches.
Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, while Portugal has never won the tournament. Both teams are expected to advance to the knockout stage; Argentina has already qualified, and Portugal sits second in Group K behind Colombia.
Potential meeting between Portugal and Argentina
If Portugal wins Group K, the two teams could meet in the quarterfinals. If Portugal finishes second, it would move to the opposite side of the bracket and play its Round of 32 match in Toronto on July 2. In that scenario, a Portugal-Argentina final on July 19 in New York would be possible, though odds remain long.
Ronaldo's refusal to engage with Messi questions continues a long-standing rivalry that has defined soccer for over two decades. Both players have rewritten record books during their careers at Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively.
