₦airaland Forum

Messi was asked to name his favorites to win the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and Ronaldo’s Portugal did not make his list.

Lionel Messi knows repeating as World Cup winner in 2026 will be a massive challenge for Argentina. He also has a clear idea of which teams stand in the way and it seems Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal is not one of them.

Argentina hope to match decades-old achievement

Argentina will defend its title at the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico next June and July. On Friday, the reigning champions will finally learn their path as they attempt to become the first back-to-back winners since Brazil pulled it off in 1958 and 1962. Messi, now the face of Inter Miami, made it clear the road will be anything but easy.

France tried to repeat in 2022 but fell just short, losing a dramatic final to an inspired Argentina side led by a brilliant Messi and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who delivered several heroic moments.

Messi’s 2026 World Cup tips

Although Argentina enters the 2026 tournament among the favorites, the former Barcelona star admitted that several other national teams are just as dangerous. Messi also made headlines for who he did not include on his list of contenders, leaving Ronaldo and Portugal outside his group of favorites.

“There are a lot of very good teams like Spain, France again, England, Brazil, which has gone a long time without winning, Germany. It is very difficult, but we are going to fight, we are going to give everything,” Messi told ESPN.

Oddsmakers’ favorites

Oddsmakers at DraftKings list Spain as the top favorite to win the 2026 World Cup. England is close behind as it looks to end a title drought that stretches back to 1966. France and Brazil follow, with defending champion Argentina rounding out the top five.

Portugal sits right behind them as the sixth favorite, even if Messi does not see Ronaldo’s team as a major threat.

Source: https://en.as.com/soccer/world-cup/lionel-messi-snubs-cristiano-ronaldo-ahead-of-2026-fifa-world-cup-draw-f202512-n/?outputType=amp

bloggers at it again! person man must chop nah! u try!

That is Messi's palava. CR7 no get time for yeye talk.

Time shall tell. Let's wait and see

bamasite2:
Time shall tell. Let's wait and see

Portugal will do better than Argentina in next world cup. Messi opinion doesn't matter

Ronaldo na big name. Messi give way

Portugal have to win world cup to get a place to the aforementioned teams.

Mrfixitt:
Portugal will do better than Argentina in next world cup. Messi opinion doesn't matter

I don't see Portugal going further to the semi's self.
You've Netherlands, Belgium,Brazil,England,Spain,Argentina,France not even Portugal mate..... including Germany is no threat.

From a Cristiano fan.

madridguy:
That is Messi's palava. CR7 no get time for yeye talk.

abi naw 6 matches doesn't worth it 🤣🤣🤣

Not a Messi fan by any stretch of the imagination. But that is the fact. Portugal is a highly talented team but with a glass jaw.

They find it very hard reacting to setbacks in matches and in tournaments even with a host of big game players.

They look coordinated on paper but delaminate and fall apart when put under severe pressure.

Other teams that traditionally have this problem include the Netherlands and of course England. Over the recent years Brazil has drifted into this category. Very fragile teams.

Whereas teams like France, Croatia and indeed Argentina find a way to win even if not playing at their best. Real tournament teams.

Am not a fan of both, but Messi always talk negative of CR7. Wasn't even a fans of Messi since the day he get Ashley Cole sent off when he jump from oshodi to kola bus stop after a tackle during Chelsea champions league semis that year.

we av dias in defence...solid

manuelkel:
I don't see Portugal going further to the semi's self.
You've Netherlands, Belgium,Brazil,England,Spain,Argentina,France not even Portugal mate..... including Germany is no threat.

From a Cristiano fan.

manuelkel:
I don't see Portugal going further to the semi's self.
You've Netherlands, Belgium,Brazil,England,Spain,Argentina,France not even Portugal mate..... including Germany is no threat.

From a Cristiano fan.

you no include Naija. Be nice

Ronaldo would do thesame. This isn't a topic

LOVEGINO:
you no include Naija. Be nice

I would pick Senegal ahead of naija currently.

Who be Cr7 and Portugal?
ignore that over head kick methuselah that is chasing the GOAT

Well, where is the lie?!!

The teams he listed are literally the key teams to beat this tournament.

manuelkel:
I would pick Senegal ahead of naija currently.

I would pick Ghana, Mali, Ivory Coast, and all North African teams ahead of Naija.


Every person with the slightest football sense would do the same.

ajalawole:
Am not a fan of both, but Messi always talk negative of CR7. Wasn't even a fans of Messi since the day he get Ashley Cole sent off when he jump from oshodi to kola bus stop after a tackle during Chelsea champions league semis that year.

the problem are the fans. Show me where he spoke negative about CR7 in the post

He didn't not sob. They are two Christian brothers of the great sport. Make una rest

Angelfrost:
I would pick Ghana, Mali, Ivory Coast, and all North African teams ahead of Naija.


Every person with the slightest football sense would do the same.

If you saw Iwobi and Sam Chuks's decent game yesterday you just wonder how they play so poorly for the Eagles. The Tech Department is not doing their job.

Most other African players give as much quality to their national team as their clubs but you can count the number of Nigerian players on the fingers of half a palm that come anywhere near their club forms.

Another short MIDS, jus like that musician... PR!DE wan wound am!

Very immature guy. Lionel always lije this and he has refused to grow up.

manuelkel:
I don't see Portugal going further to the semi's self.
You've Netherlands, Belgium,Brazil,England,Spain,Argentina,France not even Portugal mate..... including Germany is no threat.

From a Cristiano fan.

You easily forget that Portugal beat Spain to win UEFA nation league this year. Portugal has the best midfield in the world now incase you don't know

...but Messi just stated the truth na

ajalawole:
Am not a fan of both, but Messi always talk negative of CR7. Wasn't even a fans of Messi since the day he get Ashley Cole sent off when he jump from oshodi to kola bus stop after a tackle during Chelsea champions league semis that year.

You know nothing about football if you think Messi talks negative about Cristiano. Cristiano has been shading Messi from time immemorial.
Meanwhile, I don't see the issue here. Messi didn't even name Argentina.

facts are facts Portugal has not reached final of a world club ,for a very long time and having a selfish player like Ronaldo doesn't help them a bit..all this Ronaldo fans should keep quiet ,Argentina had been in two finals recently and won the last World Cup ...so messi doesn't own Ronaldo any praise ...is not a most to praise a struggling team like Portugal 🇵🇹

madridguy:
That is Messi's palava. CR7 no get time for yeye talk.

Did Messi talk anything? He only picked his choice or is that a crime?

Mrfixitt:
Portugal will do better than Argentina in next world cup. Messi opinion doesn't matter

We don hear, make Ronaldo win world cup na wetin we wan see.

Well-deserved...

A person who is always taking jabs at your success in order to make himself feel good is a foe.

Avoid such as a person.

Messi the programmed player who Barcelona helped. He should forever be grateful to that club.
Leaving barca, he couldn't play like the messi we all know.

Apart from that, messi feared challenges. He still couldn't leave Barcelona for a very long time. Now someone will tell me he is the greatest footballer on earth, lol!
Laugh wan wound me!

Na him sabi. Ronaldo no send. He who God has blessed, no man can course.