Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-standing tension with FIFA leadership and a perceived favouritism towards Lionel Messi has once again come to the fore, following a telling social media action after the recent World Cup final in North America.

The Portuguese superstar’s official Instagram account ‘liked’ a post that accused FIFA of bias towards Argentina and Messi, reigniting a narrative that has shadowed the sport’s governing body for over a decade. The social media activity came in the immediate aftermath of the World Cup final, where Argentina suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain, led by Luis de la Fuente, at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Ronaldo’s social media reaction to Argentina’s World Cup defeat

The Instagram ‘like’ serves as a potent, albeit indirect, criticism of FIFA’s perceived leanings. It echoes a sentiment that dates back to the tenure of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, suggesting that for Ronaldo, the issue of favouritism is deeply ingrained within the organization’s fabric, regardless of who is at the helm.

A decade of perceived FIFA bias: From Blatter to Infantino

The most prominent public clash between Ronaldo and a FIFA president occurred in 2013. Speaking at the Oxford Union, Blatter openly revealed his preference for Messi, making a series of comments that were widely interpreted as disparaging towards Ronaldo. Blatter described Messi as “a good boy who every mother and father would like to have at home,” while portraying Ronaldo as a “commander on the field of play.” He also made a comedic walk across the stage and quipped that Ronaldo had “more expenses for the hairdresser” than Messi.

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Ronaldo’s response was swift and sharp, taking to X to express his dismay. “This video shows the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, my club and my country. Much is explained now,” he tweeted, implying that Blatter’s comments shed light on deeper biases. Blatter later issued an apology on Twitter, stating, “Dear Cristiano. I apologise if you were upset by my lighthearted answer at private event on Friday. I never meant to offend you.”

Blatter’s 17-year tenure as FIFA president ended in 2015 amidst a sweeping corruption scandal. He was replaced in 2016 by Gianni Infantino, who has now spent 10 years in the role. Infantino himself is currently facing significant scrutiny over plans to sell stakes in the FIFA World Cup to private investors. UEFA’s 55 member nations have threatened to boycott any FIFA tournament, including future World Cups, if these plans are not abandoned. FIFA and Infantino have pushed back, stating, “nobody is selling football” and “this is not something FIFA could ever entertain.” The sentiment of continuity, despite the change in leadership, was perhaps best captured by Gary Lineker’s 2016 tweet which mused, “Have this weird feeling that Gianni Infantino will pull off his mask to reveal Sepp Blatter.”

From Blatter’s public preference for Messi to the recent social media ‘like’ after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat, the narrative of perceived FIFA favouritism has remained a consistent undercurrent in Cristiano Ronaldo’s illustrious career, spanning different presidential eras and controversies.

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