Sunil Chhetri, an Indian football legend, has shown special admiration for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, commending their incredible endurance and steadfast commitment to play at the highest level.
In the current FIFA World Cup 2026, Messi achieved another incredible milestone in his famous career when he scored his 17th and 18th World Cup goals in a brace that helped Argentina defeat Austria 2-0 in the group stage.
He surpassed Miroslav Klose, a former Germany forward who previously held the record with 16 World Cup goals, to become the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer.
Conversely, Ronaldo scored a brace in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, making him the first player ever to score in six separate FIFA World Cups (Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, and now USA-Mexico-Canada 2026).
It also made Ronaldo, at 41 years and 138 days, the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, behind Roger Milla of Cameroon, who scored a goal in 1994 at the age of 42 years and 39 days.
Consider Ronaldo and Messi, who are nearing their 40th birthdays. It’s unbelievable that they can play this well on the international scene. If there is one thing young footballers should take away from them, it is their voracity.
Chhetri identified Messi’s memorable hat-trick, Japan’s crushing 4-0 win, and the Morocco-Scotland match he saw live in Boston as his favorite tournament moments.
Messi’s hat-trick served as a reminder to everyone of his status as one of the best players ever to play the game. Japan’s 4-0 triumph was another memorable occasion, demonstrating how far Asian football has advanced. He added that Morocco vs Scotland was a great game to watch live because of the atmosphere and the caliber of play.
In the meantime, Kylian Mbappe reached a significant point in his remarkable career by becoming the tenth French player ever to record one hundred international games. He is tied with Miroslav Klose for second place with 16 World Cup goals, just two behind the new record-holder Messi (17).
Additionally, Erling Haaland became just the sixth player all time and the first player since Harry Kane in 2018 to net numerous goals in each of his first two World Cup contests. Group I has seen the Norwegian striker net four goals.
Chhetri believes that football fans are privileged to witness the last chapters of Messi’s and Ronaldo’s illustrious careers, as well as the emergence of a new generation led by Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
I believe there is no intergenerational competition. Others, like Mbappe and Haaland, will write their own tales, while Ronaldo and Messi have established their own legacies. Simply enjoy watching them and staying unbiased. Chhetri stated that you never know how many more chances you will get to see Messi and Ronaldo on a platform like this.
Chhetri said that all of the tournament’s star players have stepped up to the plate, reflecting on the performances of the greatest forwards in the world. In my opinion, no one of them has let me down.
All of the strikers who were mentioned before the competition have succeeded, including Isak, Gyokeres, Harry Kane, Mbappé, Haaland, Ronaldo, and Messi. It’s been wonderful for football fans, he concluded, because it’s not usual for all the major names to show up to the party so early in a big competition.