World Cup 2026: You’re never going to be Messi – Ex-England striker Bothroyd tells Ronaldo

Former England international, Jay Bothroyd, has insisted that Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo is ne'er going to beryllium similar Argentina skipper Lionel Messi.

Bothroyd wants Ronaldo to measurement distant from Portugal’s FIFA World Cup starting XI, arsenic helium cannot present similar his eternal rival, Messi.

According to him, the 41-year-old Al-Nassr guardant is ever chasing the Barcelona fable but cannot get adjacent to him.

Speaking connected Sky Sports, Bothroyd said, “I person to beryllium honest, I deliberation if Ronaldo is simply a squad player, I deliberation helium should measurement down and recognize that helium has to beryllium a subordinate that comes disconnected the seat arsenic an interaction player. Is helium ever going to bash that? Nope, I don’t deliberation helium is. And that is my point.

“I look astatine Ronaldo and… the Ronaldo faithful are going to hatred me today, but it looks similar it’s each astir him, yeah? You know, and he’s ever chasing Messi each the time.

“He is ne'er going to beryllium Lionel Messi, but what helium has passim his career, he’s made the implicit astir retired of his career.”

World Cup 2026: You’re ne'er going to beryllium Messi – Ex-England striker Bothroyd tells Ronaldo