Messi or Ronaldo? New study suggests political views may influence football loyalties

Whether football fans prefer Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo may be linked to their political beliefs, according to a new international study that examined attitudes towards the two global superstars across dozens of countries.

The findings come from a survey led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), which gathered responses from more than 10,000 people from 26 countries and explored how political ideology, media habits and personal traits relate to sporting preferences.

Researchers found that respondents who identified as politically liberal were generally more likely to favour Messi, while those with more conservative views tended to prefer Ronaldo. 

The relationship was particularly pronounced among younger respondents but became significantly weaker among older age groups.

According to the study, respondents in 11 countries, including Singapore, expressed a stronger preference for Ronaldo, while participants in eight countries favoured Messi. 

Seven countries showed no statistically significant preference for either player.

Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed, who led the research, said the findings indicate that political identity may influence cultural choices that appear unrelated to politics.

"Messi and Ronaldo project markedly different public personas. Messi is commonly associated with a quieter, team-oriented image, while Ronaldo is known for openly expressing his ambition and celebrating individual achievement. People may be more drawn to the player whose public image aligns with their broader values."

He added, "They offer a starting point for examining how political identity may increasingly intersect with popular culture and everyday choices in different societies."

The study also identified links between player preference and media consumption habits. Respondents who relied more heavily on short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram for news were more likely to support Ronaldo.

Researchers suggested this could be partly due to Ronaldo's strong presence on visual social media platforms, where users are frequently exposed to his carefully managed public image.

The survey further found that respondents with higher self-esteem were more inclined to favour Ronaldo.

"People may want to present themselves as modest, but that does not mean they identify most strongly with modest public figures. Those with higher self-esteem may instead gravitate towards someone who embodies excellence, confidence and achievement – qualities they may see reflected in themselves," Saifuddin said.

At the country level, Messi received particularly strong support in his home country of Argentina, as well as in several Western European nations, the United States, Canada and South Korea.

South Korea recorded the strongest relative preference for Messi among all surveyed countries. 

Researchers noted, however, that this was largely driven by comparatively low ratings for Ronaldo. The country was the only one in the survey where Ronaldo's average rating fell below four on a seven-point scale.

The researchers suggested lingering dissatisfaction over a 2019 exhibition match in Seoul, where Ronaldo did not play despite being the event's headline attraction, may have contributed to those ratings.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo received stronger support across several countries in North Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The study found no meaningful link between a country's Fifa ranking and overall preference for either footballer. 

Researchers also concluded that national loyalty alone could not explain the differences in support between countries.

The team plans further research into why the connection between political ideology and football preferences varies across age groups and how social media exposure may shape public perceptions of high-profile figures.