A groundbreaking global study has found that the decades-old debate over who is the greatest footballer of all time—Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo—may reveal more about your political ideology than your footballing taste.
According to the research published on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) platform, individuals who lean left on the political spectrum tend to prefer the Argentine maestro, while those with right-leaning views are more likely to favour the Portuguese superstar.
Landmark Global Study
The study, titled “Political Identity Beyond Politics: The Messi-Ronaldo Preference Across 26 Countries”, surveyed 10,661 people across 26 countries spanning six continents. Respondents were asked to rate both players on a scale of 1 to 7 between April and May 2026.
Using a two-level hierarchical linear model, researchers analysed how individual ideology, authoritarianism, self-esteem, and even FIFA rankings of respondents’ home countries influenced their preference.
The Verdict: Political Ideology is the Best Predictor
The study’s central conclusion is striking: political ideology emerged as the strongest individual factor in predicting whether a person prefers Messi or Ronaldo.
Progressives and self-described liberals gravitate toward Messi, while conservatives overwhelmingly choose Ronaldo.
Two Players, Two Worldviews
Lead researcher Dr Saifuddin Ahmed, Associate Professor at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, explained that the two football icons project “markedly different public personas” that align with distinct value systems:
The Messi Profile (Community Model)
Perceived as quiet, reserved, family-oriented, and deeply committed to teamwork. This projection resonates with community and collective values championed by progressive and liberal ideologies.
The Ronaldo Profile (Dominance Model)
Viewed as an individually dominant competitor, highly self-promotional, and vocal about his own excellence. His personal brand aligns with values of dominance, hierarchy, and self-affirmation historically linked to conservative ideologies.
Beyond Politics: Personality and Media Habits
The study identified additional psychological factors influencing preference:
· Ronaldo fans tend to score higher on self-esteem and authoritarian traits, and consume more news via short-form video platforms like TikTok and Instagram
· Messi fans display stronger cognitive reflection and analytical thinking
Dr Ahmed noted: “People may be more drawn to the player whose public image aligns with their broader values”.
Global Preferences: Ronaldo Leads in More Countries
While Ronaldo was more popular overall—favoured in 11 countries compared to Messi’s eight, with seven showing no clear preference—the Argentine received significantly higher percentages in certain nations, most notably Argentina and South Korea.
Study Limitations
The researchers urge caution:
- The study has not yet been peer-reviewed
- The observed statistical effect is real but remains modest
As Dr Ahmed clarified: “It predicts, it does not determine. The result is that in a given country, people slightly more conservative than their compatriots tend to rate Ronaldo higher—not that all conservatives are Ronaldo fans and all progressives are Messi fans”.
Strongest Among Youth
The link between football preference and political ideology is strongest among younger people and weakens “substantially” in older adulthood. Traditional factors—childhood memories, favourite clubs, playing style, and emotional attachment—continue to carry significant weight in shaping fan preferences.
What This Means
As Dr Ahmed explained: “We wanted to know whether politics filters into domains that feel completely apolitical, and whether it does so across very different societies, not just in the US”.
The study suggests the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has transcended football to become a cultural Rorschach test—revealing how political identity shapes our tastes, even in arenas we believe are purely about sport.
—Additional reporting by [Your Publication Name]
