Messi vs. Ronaldo GOAT scorecard: The ultimate year-by-year comparison

Lionel Messi is set to play in his third World Cup final, a milestone that frames the article's broader year-by-year comparison of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo across their careers. The piece examines the long-running debate over who is the greater player, using the World Cup final appearance as a defining moment in the rivalry. The article positions this match as a potentially conclusive chapter in soccer's most celebrated individual competition of the 21st century.