After Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy, many in the media declared him the greatest of all time. However, as Jeetbuzz Login observes, Cristiano Ronaldo’s fans weren’t quick to agree. They argued that Messi’s UEFA Champions League record pales in comparison to Ronaldo’s and therefore, he shouldn’t be crowned as the ultimate football king. This sparked a long-standing debate—what’s harder to win, the World Cup or the Champions League?
The World Cup happens only once every four years, which means a player can participate at most six times throughout their career. In contrast, the Champions League is held annually, offering players far more opportunities—potentially over 20 tournaments in a career. Logically, this makes the Champions League more accessible in terms of frequency.
Yet strangely enough, the top performers in the Champions League have almost all been European. South American greats like Messi have won it just four times at most, while legends like Rivaldo and Ronaldinho each managed it only once. Some of the biggest icons—Romário, Diego Maradona, Pelé, and Ronaldo Nazário—never won a Champions League title despite clinching World Cup victories. Ronaldo, for example, won four international titles with Brazil, making him one of the most decorated national players ever, yet he never touched the Champions League trophy. This highlights how much harder it can be for South American stars to succeed in a tournament dominated by European conditions.
According to Jeetbuzz Login’s research, one key reason lies in the structure of the Champions League—it’s a UEFA competition, governed by European referees and European standards. Unlike sports where only skill matters, football is also shaped by officiating. South American players, despite their flair and creativity, often find themselves at a disadvantage. Messi, arguably the most technically gifted player in the modern game, is also the most frequently misjudged player in Champions League history. Almost every match he’s played has included controversial calls. But there’s no recourse—his brilliance often invites unfair treatment.
In contrast, the World Cup falls under FIFA’s global jurisdiction. UEFA’s influence is limited, giving other regions a fairer shot. Even during Argentina’s run in the Qatar World Cup, five of the seven matches featured major officiating decisions that went against them. Referees didn’t expect Argentina to keep winning—but they did. In past World Cups, Messi faced similar obstacles, often blocked by questionable calls that prevented him from achieving global glory sooner.
Statistics now confirm Messi isn’t just the most fouled or misjudged player in the Champions League—he holds that title in the World Cup as well. As one poetic saying goes, “The person you fight so hard to win is often the one you’re afraid to hold on to.” Messi has never truly played under perfectly fair conditions. His game is so advanced that if defenders were to strictly follow the rulebook, every single play would end in a foul.
That’s why referees often apply selective leniency—minor pushes and tugs are ignored because otherwise, the game would stop constantly. It’s a judgment call, not always rooted in fairness. Jeetbuzz Login believes that the key to Messi’s World Cup triumph was his strategic shift in playing style. In Qatar, he reduced how often he held the ball, giving opponents fewer chances to foul him. This tactical change helped him guide what many consider one of the weakest Argentine squads in history to a stunning World Cup victory.
In the end, only Lionel Messi stands alone as the player who has conquered both the World Cup and the Champions League—a testament not just to his talent, but to his resilience in a world that hasn’t always played fair.