Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Still Inspiring the World, Says Sunil Chhetri
Sunil Chhetri praised football's biggest stars, saying Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Alexander Isak, and Viktor Gyökeres have all delivered at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
He highlighted Messi's hat-trick, Japan's 4-0 win, and Morocco vs Scotland as standout moments, urging fans to cherish the final World Cup appearances of Messi and Ronaldo. As the FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to captivate fans across the globe, Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has praised the tournament for living up to expectations. Speaking as part of ZEE5’s World Cup expert panel, Chhetri said football lovers have been fortunate to witness top forwards delivering from the very beginning of the competition.
He highlighted that stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Alexander Isak, and Viktor Gyökeres have all produced impressive performances, something rarely seen so early in a major tournament. Chhetri was particularly amazed by Messi and Ronaldo, who are both close to 40 years old, saying their relentless hunger and passion despite achieving almost everything in football should inspire young players.
Among his favourite moments of the World Cup so far, he picked Messi’s brilliant hat-trick, Japan’s dominant 4-0 victory that showcased the growth of Asian football, and Morocco’s thrilling clash against Scotland, which he watched live in Boston. Looking ahead, Chhetri believes fans should simply enjoy watching both generations of footballers, as Messi and Ronaldo continue to script the final chapters of their legendary careers while stars like Mbappé and Haaland begin creating legacies of their own.