Klopp Praises Messi and Ronaldo’s 2026 World Cup Dominance: ‘Extraordinary’ at 39 and 41

Jurgen Klopp, currently watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a spectator rather than a coach, has offered detailed insight into what he believes makes Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo so enduringly exceptional — and says the experience of watching them in person has left a lasting impression.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Liverpool manager reflected on the achievements of both players during the tournament’s opening rounds. “As a mere spectator, it naturally captivates me… they are the best players of the last ten, fifteen years,” Klopp said.

Much of Klopp’s focus fell on Ronaldo’s reaction to a difficult start to the competition. The 41-year-old Portuguese forward came under heavy scrutiny following a subdued opening match, only to respond emphatically with a brace in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan — a result that also made him his country’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer. “After the first game, in which Cristiano Ronaldo was heavily criticised… to then strike back like that, and at 41 years old with an extremely lively, intense performance, I was very pleased,” Klopp noted. “The fact that he’s still so bothered at his age when something doesn’t work out is extraordinary, and his reaction is all the more impressive.”

Messi, meanwhile, has made an equally commanding start to the tournament. The 39-year-old Argentina captain has scored five goals across two matches and, according to reports, has broken the all-time top scorer record at the World Cup. He was also central to Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria, a performance Klopp dissected with the analytical eye of a seasoned coach.

Klopp drew particular attention to Messi’s notoriously low distance coverage during matches — a statistic that often draws criticism from observers who interpret it as a lack of effort. “I saw Lionel Messi live, and when you watch the game and see that he covers eight kilometers, you think: We’ve found the optimal distance,” Klopp said. “That’s eight kilometers because then he’s really there in the decisive moment. But of course, that’s not possible for everyone.”

For Klopp, what casual observers might mistake for idleness is in fact a sophisticated reading of the game. “People would say he’s walking. I say: He’s scanning the pitch. I looked at him so often… I just wanted to see what he was doing. I think he’s measuring distances. He knows exactly, now I’m here, now I’m going to position myself on the right, now I’m going to be in the center,” he explained. “It’s extraordinary to watch him, it’s really crazy.”

The comments offer a notable perspective from one of the most respected tactical minds in modern football. Klopp, who stepped down from management at the end of the 2023-24 season after nine years at Liverpool — during which he won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup — has largely remained out of the public eye since his departure. His appearance as a pundit during the 2026 World Cup marks one of his more prominent engagements since leaving Anfield.

Both Messi and Ronaldo’s involvement in the tournament continues to generate significant interest. With the knockout stages approaching, their respective performances over the coming weeks will determine whether either can add a World Cup triumph to their already historic careers — Messi having won the trophy with Argentina at the 2022 edition in Qatar.