Brazilian football icon Ronaldo Nazario, more popularly known as \u2018El Fenomeno\u2019, has candidly\u00a0admitted that his admiration for Lionel Messi\u2019s resounding World Cup success saw him set aside his nation\u2019s rivalry with their South American neighbors Argentina\u00a0after their South American rivals won football\u2019s most coveted international trophy.<\/p>\n
Messi scored twice in Argentina\u2019s astounding World Cup final triumph over an intensely resilient France selection spearheaded by an indomitable Kylian Mbappe\u00a0and the Argentine talisman also found the net in the dramatic penalty shootout at the end of the encounter, providing his other penalty-takers with the much-needed inspiration to make their spot kicks count.<\/p>\n
Argentina finally were able to gloriously lift the elusive trophy for the first time since 1986 and became the first South American nation to win the competition since Brazil\u2019s success in 2002. Which would actually serve as a stinging slap in the face for a certain cocky France star who had not long ago bragged that the Europeans were more naturally suited than the South Americans to win the World Cup as the former are supposedly tougher and better-equipped for the task.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Brazil were unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage after capitalizing to Croatia in a penalty shootout.\u00a0After that outcome, the great El Fenomeno relented and openly set aside the intense rivalry\u00a0between the two South American giants in the closing games of the tournaments.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, you know, we have a great rivalry between Brazil and Argentina. But I will not be that much of a hypocrite to say I will be happy for Argentina because it\u2019s not true. But, of course, I see football as a romantic. Of course, I will accept (an Argentine triumph) and I will enjoy any champion.\u201d<\/p>\n In the aftermath of the final, Ronaldo wrote on his Instagram\u00a0account, alongside a photo of Messi lifting the trophy: \u201cThis guy’s football throws any rivalry to the corner – even the historic one between Brazil and Argentina. I saw a lot of Brazilians – and people from all over the world – rooting for Messi in this electrifying final.<\/p>\n