Morgan Rogers has changed his mind on the Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo question, and he has been clear about why.

Speaking on Chelsea’s official channels, the 24-year-old, who joined the club in July from Aston Villa in a British-record £117m deal, said facing Messi at the World Cup rewrote a comparison he thought was settled.

“Ronaldo was my personal favourite, but I played Messi in that World Cup semi-final, he’s 39. I couldn’t believe, I can’t imagine what he was like in his prime.”

Rogers whipped in the cross Anthony Gordon headed home to put England 1-0 up on 55 minutes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on 16 July. Then Messi took over. He created the equaliser Enzo Fernandez struck from 20 yards in the 85th minute, and delivered the cross Lautaro Martinez met with his head in the 92nd minute to send Argentina through 2-1.

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“I can imagine him in his prime being absolutely nothing you can do, like it’s impossible. But it was borderline nothing you could do in that game.”

The list Rogers made without Messi

Rogers’ about-face is not small. In a Goal interview carried by Planet Football in December 2025, he had named his five favourite footballers of all time. Ronaldo sat at the top. Neymar was second, Paul Pogba third, Wayne Rooney fourth and Steven Gerrard fifth. Messi did not appear at all.

Messi’s international retirement followed in August

Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in East Rutherford on 19 July after Ferran Torres scored in extra time. Six weeks on, Messi announced on Instagram on 31 August that his international career was over, ending on 125 goals in 207 caps.

Messi finishes eight Ballon d’Or wins to Ronaldo’s five.

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