A star is a star. Cristiano Ronaldo has done it again. On August 21, he launched a YouTube channel called UR-Cristiano, which gained 1 million subscribers in just 1 hour and 29 minutes. It was the shortest and fastest time in YouTube’s history.
YouTube presented Ronaldo with a gold button that same day. The gold button is a sign of recognition for channels that reach one million subscribers. The fact that 10 videos were uploaded at the time of the channel’s launch supports speculation that Ronaldo and YouTube had planned the channel’s launch and promotion in advance. Ronaldo is already a superstar on social media. He has over 900 million followers across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. It was only natural that YouTube would give him special treatment.
The response was overwhelming. It was like a trending topic was brought back to life. It took less than 12 hours for 700 creators around the world to reach 10 million subscribers. As of August 28, it’s on track to reach 50 million subscribers. The first video uploaded had over 30 million views and 110,000 comments. This is unprecedented in YouTube history. It’s a testament to his star power and commercial appeal, 토토사이트 순위 even as his soccer career enters its twilight years.
Of course, some reactions were to the point. “Messi won a Copa America title, Ronaldo won a YouTube gold button,” one quipped. Ronaldo’s longtime rival Lionel Messi led Argentina to the Copa America 2024 title in the United States in July. Wearing the captain’s armband, Messi led Argentina to three consecutive major tournament titles, including the 2021-2024 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Compare that to Ronaldo’s Portugal’s quarterfinal finishes at the World Cup and Euro2024, respectively.
The twilight years of two of the biggest names in 21st-century soccer are contrasting. Messi’s leadership of the national team has been remarkable. He was especially dominant at the 2022 World Cup. Messi scored in all four games from the round of 16 to the final, bringing the World Cup trophy home to his country for the first time in 38 years. It was the first “all-match tournament goal in a single competition” in soccer history. What makes him even more remarkable is the Messi kids. The younger members of the national team, more than a decade apart in age, vowed to crown Messi, and Argentina was back in a golden age.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, has struggled in major tournaments since his Euro2016 triumph. At both the World Cup in Qatar and Euro2024, he scored just one goal from the penalty spot. He’s even been criticized for focusing too much on individual performances. The G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) race is effectively over for him, as is the goat emoji on social media.
Ronaldo and Messi are on opposite ends of the spectrum, not only with their national teams but also with their clubs. Ronaldo joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nasr on the last day of 2022. It was just over a month after he had terminated his contract with Manchester United. At the time, he was in the midst of a falling out with manager Eric Mourinho and a string of sniping comments in media interviews. Ronaldo wanted to stay in Europe, but no team was interested in signing the maverick. That’s when Alnasr came calling with a €200 million offer. Ronaldo decided to end his career in Europe and head to the Middle East.
At Al-Nasr, Ronaldo has flourished as an individual, not as part of a team. Last season, he scored 35 goals in the league alone, making him the top scorer at age 39, but the team failed to win back-to-back titles. Alnasr’s main objective in signing the world’s most expensive player was to become Asia’s top club. Contrary to expectations, the team didn’t even reach the semifinals of the AFC Champions League. They were beaten by Al-Hilal in the Saudi league and by clubs from other countries in the Champions League. Al-Nasr didn’t find the investment in Ronaldo worthwhile.
How does Messi feel about Ronaldo?
In recent years, he has earned dislike for his mocking gestures towards teammates and lack of respect for other teams. On August 18, Al-Nasr faced Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup and lost 1-4 in an upset. Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 44th minute of the first half, but Al Nasr could not hold onto the lead. Alhilal scored four goals in the second half. Ronaldo, wearing the captain’s armband, became angry with his teammates after the fourth goal. He put his hands next to his ears and gestured at his teammates, accusing them of sleeping. His post-match demeanor was also controversial. After finishing runner-up, the Alnasr players had to stand on the podium to receive their silver medal. Ronaldo went into the locker room and didn’t come out.
Ronaldo’s no-show attitude is nothing new. His no-show in 2019 when he traveled to South Korea with Juventus is a case in point. Ronaldo was supposed to play in a friendly match, but he didn“t, citing poor physical condition. Korean fans were disappointed that he didn”t show up. Upon his return to Europe, Ronaldo stirred up even more controversy when he posted a video of himself working out on social media, mocking his fans.
For Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo is the face of their league, and they pay him a huge salary, plus a bonus for being an ambassador for their 2030 World Cup bid. The signing of Ronaldo has spurred other clubs in Saudi Arabia to compete for world-class players such as Neymar, Benzema, Mane, and Kante. But Ronaldo hasn’t shown the class and attitude to match his salary.
Messi’s behavior shines in contrast. Messi chose to move to the United States last summer. This was after Alnasr’s biggest rival, Alhilal, offered him 400 million euros, double Ronaldo’s salary. Messi plays for Inter Miami, a team famously co-owned by David Beckham. Beckham proposed the move to maximize the marketability of soccer’s newest continent ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America. Messi chose vision over money. Inter Miami also promised a hefty salary of more than $70 billion, but that’s less than Messi earned in his prime in Europe. The $70 billion figure includes the entirety of Major League Soccer (MLS) to create the “Messi Effect.
The Messi effect has been evident. Inter Miami sells out games even though ticket prices are 16 times higher than the previous year. Other teams have benefited as well. Large stadiums with 60,000 to 70,000 seats sold out quickly because Messi was coming to town. MLS also signed a new broadcast rights deal with Apple TV, increasing the commercial scale of the league as a whole. The Ronaldo effect in Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is yet to be realized. Despite his huge salary, he’s struggling to draw 10,000 people to stadiums. Al Nasr’s league opener drew just 9,000 people. Messi himself probably didn’t know that he would be honored as a pioneer at the end of his career.
At this point, you have to wonder how Ronaldo feels when he sees Messi. While his salary and YouTube presence make him an influencer who generates buzz, his great career is crumbling.