When Ronaldo Criticised Messi Over 2014 World Cup Golden Ball Win

• Cristiano Ronaldo once appeared to slam Lionel Messi amid the 2014 World Cup
• The Portuguese star aimed a dig at his rival for winning the Golden Ball that year
• At the 2014 World Cup edition, the Argentine had four goals en route to the final

Cristiano Ronaldo is known for expressing his opinions, especially when he disagrees with statements concerning his perceived perpetual rival, Lionel Messi.

The Portuguese star and the Argentine icon created a duopoly by dominating football with a combined total of 13 Ballon d'Or awards and numerous trophies.

Despite their mutual influence and words to the contrary, there was a palpable rivalry, with each striving to outshine the other during the peaks of their careers.

On one specific occasion in 2014, Messi propelled Argentina to its first World Cup final since 1990, only to endure a heartbreaking defeat against Germany when Mario Goetze netted a decisive extra-time goal.

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Despite being on the losing side in the final round of the tournament, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star was honoured with the Golden Ball as the best player of the quadrennial tournament.

The now eight-time Ballon d'Or winner fended off Germany's Thomas Muller and the Netherlands' Arjen Robben, who finished with the Silver and Bronze Ball awards, respectively, per Bleacher Report.

Ronaldo's cheeky dig at Messi

During this tournament, where Ronaldo's Portugal bowed out in the group stages, the Al-Nassr icon seemed to express disagreement with the Technical Study Group responsible for selecting the Golden Ball winner.

"If I said everything that I think, I would be in prison. Everyone can see, make their own judgements, the people in the world of football are intelligent," the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said as quoted by Sportskeeda.

The Portuguese veteran was also quick to express his belief that he was the superior of the two.

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"It would be a very interesting question for him. I cannot be honest about it. Each one does his job, each one delivers his best. Both want to be the best. For me, in my mind, I am the best."

While there were uncertainties about Messi winning the Golden Ball in 2014, the exceptional playmaker erased any doubts eight years later, winning it for the second time.

He led La Albiceleste to victory in Qatar, scoring seven goals and contributing assists. Meanwhile, Ronaldo's country exited the tourney in the quarter-final against Morocco.

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Ronaldo's sister slams Messi's Ballon d'Or win

Sports Brief also reported that Ronaldo's sister, Katia Aveiro defended her superstar brother by reacting to a social media post that appeared to criticise Messi's eighth Ballon d'Or award.

She seemed to align with a viewpoint suggesting the Argentine did not deserve the title, as she engaged with a post celebrating the accomplishments of the Portuguese superstar instead.