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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>All-time greats are leaders for their respective nations</li><li>Have broken countless records between them</li><li>Questions asked of whether they are the right skippers</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi 'don't need to be captains'! Rival GOATs told 'it's not right' to follow 'under-11s football' rules with armband at international level

<p>Two all-time greats, who have <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/many-years-left-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-rivalry-former-usmnt-stars-alexi-lalas-stuart-holden-explain-why-goat-battle-continue-2026-world-cup/bltda9538095c917571" target="_blank">spent their careers locked in a battle for global supremacy</a>, continue to take on the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/what-kind-captain-cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr-portugal-superstar-discipline-them-admission-explaining-leadership-style/blt67904af77e95f42f" target="_blank">responsibility of leading their respective countries</a>. The record books have been rewritten with European and South American nations.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Five-time Ballon d’Or winner <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/108-goal-star-happy-cristiano-ronaldo-broke-incredible-record-entry-history-books-shared-genius-lionel-messi/bltd9dcab4a2e57ad74" target="_blank">Ronaldo has 217 caps and 135 goals for Portugal</a>, while helping them to European Championship and Nations League honours. Messi, with eight Golden Balls to his name, is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-messi-lifts-world-cup-trophy-argentina-thrilling-penalty-shootout-france-goat/blt38b30d6ba3692fc1" target="_blank">a World Cup and Copa America winner</a> that has represented Argentina on 191 occasions and found the target 112 times.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Their standing among the immortals is secure, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-ex-barcelona-portugal-star-deco-diplomatic-ideal-world-answer-goat-debate/bltd40c84d158ed2236" target="_blank">both sporting GOATs</a> have been told that they do not need to do everything when it comes to inspiring those around them, with there a child-like quality to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/goat-mindset-lionel-messi-never-bothered-attitude-great-argentine-superstar-inter-miami-supporters-shield-mls-cup/blta1e754191ebc3e7f" target="_blank">their leadership methods.</a></p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Ex-England international striker Stan Collymore has told <a href="https://vegas.williamhill.com/ " target="_blank"><em>William Hill Vegas</em></a>: "For any big, game-changing players, why do they need to be captain? I know that we’re in a day and age where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are captains of Argentina and Portugal, because they're the best players and they want to take corners, free-kicks, even throw-ins!</p><p>"But to me, it just harks back to under-11s football, where you give the best player everything - and that’s not right. Things like the captaincy are important, but captains don’t need to be doing everything on the pitch. It’s important to have a captain who is in the right position to see everything on the field."</p>

WHAT EX-ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL SAID

<p>Ronaldo and Messi are heading down a path that should <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-will-make-another-world-cup-aged-39-if-he-wants-to-argentina-inter-miami-2026/bltb5aa3ea2e511c168" target="_blank">lead to the 2026 World Cup finals</a>. The former is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-final-career-goals-man-utd-coach-cr7-objectives-lebron-james-target-involving-portuguese-goat-son/blt9b4b88b27269a562" target="_blank">still going strong at the age of 40</a> with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, while the latter has a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-stay-inter-miami-2026-happy-claim-alexis-mac-allister-argentina-international-future-mls-world-cup-trophy-defence/blte1763b48093403e0" target="_blank">12-month extension option in his contract at MLS outfit Inter Miami</a>.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi 'don't need to be captains'! Rival GOATs told 'it's not right' to follow 'under-11s football' rules with armband at international level | Goal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been told that they do not need to follow &quot;under-11s football&quot; rules by captaining Portugal and Argentina.

Cristiano Ronaldo &amp; Lionel Messi &apos;don&apos;t need to be captains&apos;! Rival GOATs told &apos;it&apos;s not right&apos; to follow &apos;under-11s football&apos; rules with armband at international level