Respondents who frequently watch short videos and news on social media tend to prefer Cristiano Ronaldo. According to a survey conducted by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, supporters of Lionel Messi are generally more liberal, while Ronaldo’s supporters lean towards more conservative views. Currently, North America is hosting the grand football event—FIFA World Cup 2026. This moment has placed the two legendary footballers, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, at the center of global conversation. With an age difference of about two years, these players are likely participating in their final World Cup.
The online survey included over 10,000 respondents from 26 countries. The findings revealed that Messi fans tend to hold progressive and liberal opinions, whereas Ronaldo fans are often more conservative and traditional. Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed of NTU led the study. The research also indicated that this trend is more pronounced among younger respondents. Support for Ronaldo was higher on average in 11 countries, while Messi received stronger support in 8 countries.
According to Saifuddin, Messi and Ronaldo present very different public personalities. Messi generally projects a calm and team-oriented image, whereas Ronaldo is known for openly expressing his ambition and focusing on individual achievements. The study also found that respondents with high self-esteem were more likely to support Ronaldo.
Country-wise, Messi received strong preference scores from Argentina, the United States, Canada, Finland, Spain, Norway, and South Korea. Of these, South Korea gave Messi the highest preference rating. Ronaldo’s ratings there were significantly lower. Researchers speculate that the incident in Seoul in 2019 played a significant role in Korean supporters’ reduced evaluation of Ronaldo.
The researchers found no correlation between a country’s FIFA rankings and the overall player preferences of its respondents. Further research is planned to explore why the relationship between political ideology and player preference varies with age.
