Jay Bothroyd: Cristiano Ronaldo Should Come Off the Bench for Portugal and Will Never Match Lionel Messi

Former England striker Jay Bothroyd has made a bold contribution to one of football’s most enduring debates, stating that Cristiano Ronaldo will never match Lionel Messi and should relinquish his starting position for Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Bothroyd argued that Ronaldo’s best service to the Portuguese national side at this stage of his career would be as an impact substitute rather than a guaranteed starter. “I have to be honest, I think if Ronaldo is a team player, he should step down and understand that he has to be a player that comes off the bench as an impact player,” Bothroyd said.

The former striker acknowledged, however, that such a scenario is unlikely to materialise given Ronaldo’s well-documented competitive nature. “Is he ever going to do that? Nope, I don’t think he is. And that is my point,” Bothroyd added.

Bothroyd also took aim at what he perceives as Ronaldo’s preoccupation with his long-standing rivalry with Argentina’s Lionel Messi, suggesting the contrast between the two players’ impact on their respective national teams is becoming more pronounced. “I look at Ronaldo and… the Ronaldo faithful are going to hate me today, but it looks like it’s all about him. He’s always chasing Messi all the time,” he said.

The comments come during an active 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign for both nations, with Messi continuing to feature prominently for Argentina on the international stage. Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has faced growing scrutiny over his influence for Portugal at the tournament.

The Ronaldo-Messi rivalry is broadly considered the most significant individual competition in the history of football. Across careers spanning more than two decades, the pair have collectively accumulated multiple Ballon d’Or awards, numerous domestic league titles, continental honours, and a host of individual scoring records at both club and international level.

Ronaldo, 41, currently plays his club football for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while Messi, 37, is based at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Both players have continued to represent their countries at the 2026 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 nations.

Portugal are among the sides with realistic aspirations of progressing deep into the knockout rounds, though questions surrounding Ronaldo’s role within Roberto Martínez’s squad have persisted throughout the competition. Bothroyd’s remarks are likely to add further fuel to an already active conversation about whether the veteran forward remains best deployed from the outset or whether his influence is better preserved for decisive moments from the bench.