William Troost-Ekong Declares Messi vs Ronaldo GOAT Debate ‘Over’ After Argentina Star Becomes World Cup’s All-Time Top Scorer

Former Nigeria international and ex-Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has declared the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo greatest of all time debate definitively closed, pointing to Messi’s record-breaking performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as conclusive evidence.

Troost-Ekong, serving as a matchday analyst for SuperSport, was on duty when Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in a Group J fixture. During the match, Messi — now 38 years old — scored twice to bring his all-time FIFA World Cup tally to 18 goals, surpassing any other player in the tournament’s history.

“The debate is over. Two fantastic players, players that define a generation, but Lionel Messi is the GOAT, and he keeps on showing us what he is,” Troost-Ekong said in response to the historic milestone.

The former defender went further, drawing attention to the consistency Messi has demonstrated across Argentina’s opening two matches at the tournament. “I think to do that on this world stage, winning the World Cup was one thing, but now again, coming in, first game hat-trick, second game brace, I think it’s just showing us where this is going to lead to… and that’s Lionel Messi,” he added.

Troost-Ekong also acknowledged the remarkable longevity both players have displayed, while making clear his position on who stands above the other. “So for them to be able to compete at this level, like I said, it’s something extraordinary. As a player, it’s inspirational to see, to play at that age and do it,” he said. “But for me, Lionel Messi’s just something special. There’s things that he does that other football players just simply cannot do.”

Messi’s 2026 World Cup campaign has been a continuation of the form that made Argentina world champions at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar — an achievement widely regarded as the moment the GOAT debate shifted decisively in the Argentine’s favour. His hat-trick in Argentina’s opening group game, followed by his brace against Austria, has placed him among the most prolific individual performers the tournament has ever seen.

By contrast, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo has faced a markedly different tournament experience. Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening Group fixture, a result that drew criticism, with Ronaldo reportedly facing scrutiny over his contribution to the team’s difficulties.

The diverging trajectories of the two icons at what is likely to be their final World Cup together has sharpened the focus of an ongoing debate that has dominated football conversation for nearly two decades. With Argentina among the tournament favourites and Messi already rewriting the record books in the early stages, Troost-Ekong’s assessment reflects a view that has gained considerable traction across the footballing world.