Former Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has paid tribute to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for their outstanding performances at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Messi continued his remarkable World Cup journey on Monday, scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
The brace saw the Argentine captain surpass former Germany striker Miroslav Klose as the competition’s all-time leading scorer.
Ronaldo also made headlines after netting twice in Portugal’s emphatic win over Uzbekistan.
The goals enabled the 41-year-old to become the first footballer to score in six different World Cup tournaments.
Despite being in the latter stages of their careers, both superstars have remained influential for their countries, producing performances that have captivated football fans around the world.
Klopp, who has closely followed the tournament, described the duo as exceptional talents whose achievements should be appreciated while they are still active.
“As a mere spectator, it naturally captivates me a bit because they are the best players of the last 10, 15 years.
“But what was great to see was this: after the first game, in which Cristiano Ronaldo was heavily criticised – even I noticed that – to then strike back like that, and at 41 years old with an extremely lively, intense performance, I was very pleased.
“The fact that he’s still so bothered at his age when something doesn’t work out is extraordinary, and his reaction is all the more impressive.”
Klopp also reflected on his brief interaction with Messi during the tournament.
“It’s extraordinary that we get to experience this generation. It’s special. And when we briefly saw each other on the sidelines and Messi kindly included us in the line of well-wishers, even as a 59-year-old, I realised just how special something like that can be.
“Because it was special. I was just as happy to see my former player Alexis Mac Allister and have a quick chat with him. But then Messi came along. And that’s something else entirely.”
Messi has now scored 18 goals in World Cup competition, while Ronaldo has taken his tally to 10 as Argentina and Portugal continue their quest for global glory.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, with 48 nations competing at 16 venues.
