Cristiano Ronaldo or Raphinha for your World Cup team? Fans debate
During the 2026 World Cup, fans have engaged in a heated debate over whether to pick legendary Cristiano Ronaldo or the in-form Raphinha for their current squads.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: YantsImages
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway, and football debates are in full swing. One question currently dividing opinion is: would you rather have Cristiano Ronaldo or Raphinha in your team right now?
When GOAL's FanZone put this to a group of fans, four out of five backed the Brazilian Barcelona winger. Only one supporter stood in Ronaldo's corner, sparking a raw and unfiltered debate.
The Raphinha supporters highlighted the context of their respective careers: Ronaldo, at 41, is playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, while 29-year-old Raphinha is coming off a decorated season as a La Liga winner.
It's just the name. One guy is playing in the Saudi league, the other guy is playing for Barcelona. Fans during the debate
While the Ronaldo supporter attempted to defend his choice by pointing to the player's historic achievements and longevity, the opposing camp insisted that a World Cup is decided by form in the present, not past glory.
The argument highlighted the ongoing shift in perspective among fans, balancing reverence for a legendary career against the immediate, high-level impact required for a major tournament.