Fans insist Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo debate has been ‘ended for good’

Lionel Messi's masterclass against Croatia has ended the GOAT debate with Cristiano Ronaldo 'for good' in the eyes of fans.

The debate over who's the best out of the pair of football gods has raged over the past two decades as they both ascended to the summit of the game. But after witnessing Messi's magic for Argentina as they blew past Croatia in the World Cup semi-final, fans insist there's only one person who can sit on the throne – and it's not Ronaldo.

Messi was on hand to give Argentina the lead with a ferocious penalty strike, and he later produced a dazzling assist for team-mate Julian Alvarez who put the game to game to bed with his second strike of the match. And his dominant display led fans to pick him over Ronaldo as the GOAT.

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One fan declared under football reporter Sid Lowe's post highlighting that Messi is poised to play in his sixth World Cup final: "Think we can safely put the Messi v Ronaldo debate to bed now. Messi is on another level." And a second added: "It was never a real debate. Just men keeping busy."

And a third fan simply left a clapping emoji in agreement, while a fourth user insisted Ronaldo's not even in the sport's top four, let alone Messi's rival. The gulf on and off the pitch has been widening between the pair across the past few seasons.

While Messi's still a mainstay in Paris Saint-Germain's side, Ronaldo's found himself struggling to get a game at Manchester United, leading to the Portugal ace's turbulent exit from the club.

The 37-year-old initially caused an uproar when he stormed down United's tunnel after refusing to come off the bench during the Red Devils' match against Tottenham.

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His petulant strop was followed by an explosive tell-all interview with Piers Morgan slamming United. And CR7 carried his egotistical antics into the World Cup with Portugal.

The fallen idol was dropped to the bench by boss Fernando Santos after expressing frustration for being subbed during Portugal's final group games. Ronaldo cut a forlorn figure on the bench as his replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick in Santos' side's 6-1 win over Switzerland.

And while Messi's on the brink of clinching World Cup glory after spurring Argentina into Sunday's final against either Morocco or France, who play in the other semi-final on Wednesday, Ronaldo was reduced to tears as he stormed off the pitch once again when Portugal were dumped out of the competition.

A World Cup trophy for Messi will be the diadem of his glittering career that's seen him win the Ballon d'Or eight times, compared to Ronaldo's five. And as he gears up to return to PSG, potentially with a World Cup medal in tow, Ronaldo's scrambling around for a new club after being released by United by mutual consent.

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