![BarcaTimes's tweet photo. 🚨| 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍: Barcelona are finalising their bid to host the 2029 UEFA Champions League FINAL at the renovated Spotify Camp Nou, with the required documentation set to be submitted to UEFA by Wednesday.
The stadium is expected to hold 104,600 spectators, making it the largest in Europe, and the bid has the support of both the Spanish government and Barcelona City Council. [@sport] #fcblive 🏟️](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HKTBx_FXcAAyIUK.jpg)
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Ray | 🇪🇸🇦🇷🇳🇱 WC 2026
@RayTouchline
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Scenes where we play the final in our stadium 😁🏟️💙❤️
🚨| 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍: Barcelona are finalising their bid to host the 2029 UEFA Champions League FINAL at the renovated Spotify Camp Nou, with the required documentation set to be submitted to UEFA by Wednesday.
The stadium is expected to hold 104,600 spectators, making it the largest in Europe, and the bid has the support of both the Spanish government and Barcelona City Council. [@sport] #fcblive 🏟️
![BarcaTimes's tweet photo. 🚨| 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍: Barcelona are finalising their bid to host the 2029 UEFA Champions League FINAL at the renovated Spotify Camp Nou, with the required documentation set to be submitted to UEFA by Wednesday.
The stadium is expected to hold 104,600 spectators, making it the largest in Europe, and the bid has the support of both the Spanish government and Barcelona City Council. [@sport] #fcblive 🏟️](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HKTBx_qX0AAIEX3.jpg)
So glad I chose Messi ❤️
With Real Madrid now reportedly entering the race for Julián Álvarez, Barcelona's search for their next No. 9 has become even more important.
Álvarez remains the dream target. He is the profile Barcelona want, the player reportedly likes the project, and the club see him as the long-term heir to Lewandowski. But if Atlético Madrid continue to make the deal unnecessarily difficult, Barça cannot afford to spend the entire summer chasing one name.
Victor Osimhen brings goals, power, intensity, and proven elite-level production. João Pedro offers versatility, technical quality, and room to develop into a complete modern forward. Fisnik Asllani is the high-upside option, younger, cheaper, and packed with potential. Haaland remains the fantasy signing, but Barcelona's rebuild will be driven by smart decisions, not fantasy football.
The most curious part is Atlético's handling of the situation. When Barcelona showed interest, the message was that Álvarez was untouchable. Then reports of Real Madrid's interest emerged, and suddenly the conversation shifted towards huge valuations and public statements. It gives the impression that Atlético are more interested in shaping headlines than facilitating a straightforward negotiation.
Barcelona should stay calm, know their limit, and avoid getting pulled into a bidding contest. If Atlético want a sensible deal, negotiate. If not, move on. The club has alternatives.
Whether it is Álvarez, Osimhen, João Pedro, or Asllani, the goal remains the same: find the next great No. 9 for Camp Nou.
Julián Álvarez is a fantastic player, but I am not convinced he is the right €150 million signing for Real Madrid.
The biggest issue is fit. Madrid already have Mbappé, Vinícius, Rodrygo, Endrick, Güler and Bellingham contributing to the attack. Álvarez's versatility is a strength, but it also means he overlaps with profiles that already exist in the squad. He would improve the depth and quality of the team, but he would not fundamentally change how Madrid play.
What Madrid occasionally lack is a different attacking solution against elite opponents. Álvarez is not a dominant aerial striker, nor is he a powerful hold-up forward who can occupy centre-backs and offer a direct route when games become difficult. His strengths are intelligence, movement, pressing and link-up play, which are qualities Madrid already possess in abundance.
For that reason, €150 million feels excessive. Álvarez would undoubtedly make Real Madrid stronger, but not necessarily more complete. If Madrid are going to spend that kind of money, I would argue it should be on a player who adds a new dimension to the squad rather than another elite forward with a profile that largely overlaps with their existing stars.
Álvarez is a top-class footballer. The question is not whether he is good enough for Real Madrid. The question is whether he is the player Real Madrid need most. I am not sure the answer is yes.
🚨 BREAKING: Atlético Madrid would ACCEPT €150M for Julián Álvarez. @berger_pj
Since y'all love goals and assists so much, we will soon be heading to the conversation where we say Rakitic is a better player than Modric. Please ensure that the yardstick remains constant.
What's the use of your intelligence if you can't use it to win the world cup?
How hard is English ? Or is Messi just very unintelligent outside football ? Endrick is 18 and already knows 4 languages. Messi is probably the only top player I know that speaks only one language
@Joshua__Ubeku What's up? Let's connect.
Messi fans, whenever Ronaldo fans ask you why you think Messi is the better player, don't waste time arguing. Just give them this template.
Long story shot just keep the world cup on the table the will run
Messi fans, whenever Ronaldo fans ask you why you think Messi is the better player, don't waste time arguing. Just give them this template.
Genuinely asking Bants aside , do people think Messi is a better footballer than Ronaldo?
@kingX_tw If you insist.
The claim that Messi is only rated because he won the 2022 World Cup falls apart the moment the full body of evidence is examined. The World Cup strengthened Messi's case. It did not create it.
Start with the biggest individual award in football.
Messi has won 8 Ballon d'Or awards.
Ronaldo has won 5 Ballon d'Or awards.
That is a difference of 3 Ballon d'Ors, despite both players spending most of their careers competing directly against each other.
Now look at overall production.
Messi
910 goals
414 assists
1,324 goal contributions
1,155 appearances
Ronaldo
973 goals
261 assists
1,234 goal contributions
1,323 appearances
Ronaldo has scored 63 more goals, but he has also played 168 more matches.
Despite playing significantly fewer games, Messi has produced 90 more total goal contributions.
The creativity gap is even more striking.
Messi: 414 assists
Ronaldo: 261 assists
That is a difference of 153 assists.
In other words, Messi has created almost the equivalent of an additional elite striker's entire career output.
The efficiency numbers favour Messi too.
Messi scores 0.79 goals per game.
Ronaldo scores 0.74 goals per game.
Messi averages a goal every 104 minutes.
Ronaldo averages a goal every 111 minutes.
Messi produces a goal contribution every 72 minutes.
Ronaldo produces a goal contribution every 88 minutes.
So while Ronaldo leads in total goals, Messi reaches goals and assists more frequently and more efficiently.
Then there is international football.
Messi
116 goals
61 assists
1 World Cup
2 Copa América titles
1 Finalissima
Ronaldo
143 goals
37 assists
1 European Championship
2 Nations League titles
Ronaldo leads international goals by 27, but Messi leads international assists by 24.
More importantly, Messi owns the one trophy every player dreams about: the FIFA World Cup.
The trophy cabinet also tells a clear story.
Messi: 48 trophies
Ronaldo: 37 trophies
That is an advantage of 11 major trophies.
Ronaldo leads in Champions Leagues, winning 5 compared to Messi's 4.
Messi leads in overall silverware and international honours.
The head-to-head record also deserves attention.
When they faced each other in official matches, Messi's teams won more games.
Messi finished with 22 goals and 12 assists.
Ronaldo finished with 21 goals and 1 assist.
Even in direct competition, Messi provided far more for his team beyond scoring.
The individual records continue.
Ballon d'Or
Messi 8
Ronaldo 5
European Golden Shoe
Messi 6
Ronaldo 4
World Cup titles
Messi 1
Ronaldo 0
Career assists
Messi 414
Ronaldo 261
Total goal contributions
Messi 1,324
Ronaldo 1,234
Goal contributions per minute
Messi ahead
Goals per game
Messi ahead
Assists per game
Messi ahead
Even in 2026, nearing the end of their careers, the trend remains.
Messi has recorded 14 goals and 7 assists in 18 appearances.
Ronaldo has recorded 16 goals and 1 assist in 22 appearances.
Messi is averaging a goal contribution every 74 minutes.
Ronaldo is averaging a goal contribution every 109 minutes.
None of this diminishes Ronaldo's greatness. He is the greatest goalscorer the game has ever seen and one of football's most extraordinary athletes.
The issue is that the numbers consistently point in the same direction. Ronaldo wins the battle for total goals and longevity. Messi wins the battle for Ballon d'Ors, assists, efficiency, total goal contributions, trophy count, international honours, and overall completeness as a footballer.
That is why Messi's case did not begin in 2022.
The World Cup was simply the final piece of a puzzle that was already almost complete.
The Ronaldo hate is funny. Most of these so called football fans never watched prime Ronaldo. Their entire football knowledge is Messi won the World Cup. Football didn’t start in 2022. 🤡
The man The enemy😂
Messi is the standard. You people should face your World Cup battles and don't involve us in it.
🚨Unpopular Opinion🚨
Cristiano Ronaldo winning the World Cup will be a bigger achievement than Messi’s simply because Portugal have NEVER won it before…..
@Desmund_Oris Good morning, bro
Good morning, Football Twitter. ❤️⚽
The World Cup is almost here, and the countdown is starting to feel real.
How many days to go? 👀🏆
What team are you supporting?
#FootballTwitter #WorldCup #WorldCup2026 #RayTouchline #Football #FIFAWorldCup
@UdoNwakpuru Good morning, brother
@DamisDml Thank you 🙏🏾
@KaaluPhili60041 Amen, in Jesus' name 🙏🏾
Hold it right there!
Even if Messi loses all the games in the World Cup, it still won't cancel all of these:
International Honours
FIFA World Cup Winner: 2022
FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 2014
Copa América Winner: 2021, 2024
Copa América Runner-up: 2007, 2015, 2016
Copa América Third Place: 2019
Finalissima Winner: 2022
Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner: 2005
Club Honours
UEFA Champions League Winner: 4
FIFA Club World Cup Winner: 3
UEFA Super Cup Winner: 3
La Liga Winner: 10
Ligue 1 Winner: 2
Copa del Rey Winner: 7
Supercopa de España Winner: 8
Trophée des Champions Winner: 1
Leagues Cup Winner: 2023
Supporters’ Shield Winner: 2024
MLS Cup Winner: 2025
Individual Awards
Ballon d’Or Winner: 8
The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 4
European Golden Shoe: 6
FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 2
Copa América Best Player: 2
UEFA Men’s Player of the Year: 3
FIFA World Player of the Year: 1
Golden Boy: 1
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2
La Liga Best Player/Pichichi-level dominance across multiple seasons
Major Medal Count
World Cup Gold: 1
World Cup Silver: 1
Copa América Gold: 2
Copa América Silver: 3
Copa América Bronze: 1
Olympic Gold: 1
U-20 World Cup Gold: 1
Finalissima Gold: 1
A "7-game tournament" can't ruin the legacy of this colossus. 👍🏾
Were the fouls deserving of a penalty or not? Let's keep things issue-based.
🚨 𝗗𝗜𝗗 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪: Lionel Messi had 5 penalties awarded during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. ⚽🏆
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