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Hello. A manufactured online rivalry between the sons of Messi and Ronaldo is built on lies — and that’s just the beginning.
Coming up:
👦 Messi vs Ronaldo: fake frontier
👋 Embarrassing Euro exits
🗣️ Varane exclusive interview
🏉 Rugby league star at Chelsea
Strange new rivalry: Thiago Messi, Cristiano Jr in fake social posts about goalscoring ability
The Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry defined a generation. A quick scroll through social media and you’d assume their sons, Cristiano Jr and Thiago, are following in their footsteps. But don’t believe everything you read.
Two graphics have done the rounds stating Ronaldo, aged 14, had scored 10 goals in a 10-9 victory for Al Nassr’s youth team against Al Ittihad, while Thiago Messi, aged 12, had scored 11 goals in a 12-0 win for Inter Miami in the Under-13 MLS Cup against Atlanta United (above).
Prolific stuff. The only problem? Neither achievement was real.
The Ronaldo claim was a fabrication, while Messi’s 11 goals in the Under-13 MLS Cup are particularly impressive given the competition doesn’t exist.
This was one of many posts about the pair’s goalscoring antics circulating on social media, viewed millions of times. Are online fandoms simply using misinformation to stoke the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry through the pair’s sons? It’s a bit more complicated than that.
High-risk strategy
Adam Crafton’s research found many of the graphics featured the logo of Stake.com, an Australian online casino and betting company — and Everton’s front-of-shirt sponsor — that recently gave up its gambling licence in Great Britain after being investigated by the UK’s Gambling Commission.
Multiple fan accounts approached by The Athletic said they had been asked to use a Stake logo in their graphics and were incentivised based on how much engagement a post generates. Messi and Ronaldo are proven drivers of clicks, regardless of whether what is being written about them is true. However, none of the accounts are affiliated to Ronaldo or Messi, and neither player has a commercial relationship with Stake.
Stake did not respond when asked what, if any, regulatory or legal guidelines were provided to partner accounts or agencies that may be partnering with accounts on its behalf. A spokesperson told The Athletic: “The presence of the Stake logo on content does not necessarily indicate a formal relationship or sponsorship by Stake.”
The misinformation about Messi and Ronaldo’s sons appears to be the consequence of an advertising campaign that promotes Stake via social media accounts with substantial followings. With the use of young people in gambling advertising prohibited in the U.S. and UK, it’s a marketing strategy described as “high risk” by one legal expert.
While the next generation of Ronaldo vs Messi is not quite here yet, you never know what the youngsters will achieve in time. You might just need to see it to believe it.
News round-up
Embarrassing exits: Hernandez and Milan fall too easily, Toloi sees red
Tuesday’s Champions League knockout round play-offs served up drama and red cards a-plenty.
Our first contender for most shameful red card of the day is Milan full-back Theo Hernandez, who hit the deck after non-existent contact — and that’s being kind — from Feyenoord’s Givairo Read (above). Hernandez was shown a second yellow card for simulation, and Feyenoord made their numerical advantage count to progress 2-1 on aggregate.
Not wanting to be upstaged, Atalanta captain Rafael Toloi also saw red as his side were beaten by Club Brugge (below). We don’t encourage this behaviour, but it is great slapstick. The failed throw (watch right at the start of the clip), the slip, the time to compose himself before deciding to wriggle past the referee and barge his opponent anyway.
Celtic also exited the competition but with their dignity intact after an impressive display against Bayern Munich. Brendan Rodgers’ side had opportunities to win the tie, but were beaten on aggregate by a heartbreaking 94th-minute Alphonso Davies goal.
Varane opens up
Charlotte Harpur caught up with the recently retired Raphael Varane — and it’s a great interview.
The four-time Champions League winner speaks candidly about his “complicated” relationship with former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. He admitted he was surprised the Dutchman stayed on at the end of the 2023-24 season. “The connection with the group no longer existed,” Varane said.
The insight the defender offers into the differences between Real Madrid and Manchester United is also fascinating, highlighting the contrasting approach to tactics, squad building and young players.
Varane even makes defending sound poetic. “Anticipate to defend so you don’t even have a duel.” I need that on a fridge magnet.
Catch a match
(Selected games. Unless stated otherwise, 3pm ET/8pm UK time and broadcast on Paramount+, ViX/TNT Sports)
Champions League knockout round play-off 2nd leg: Borussia Dortmund (3) vs Sporting CP (0), 12.45pm/5.45pm — CBS Sports, Paramount+, ViX/TNT Sports; Real Madrid (3) vs Manchester City (2); PSG (3) vs Brest (0); PSV (1) vs Juventus (2).
Premier League: Aston Villa vs Liverpool, 2.30pm/7.30pm, USA Network, Fubo/TNT Sports.
CONCACAF Champions Cup (U.S. only): Sporting Kansas City vs Inter Miami, 8pm — Fubo, ViX; CF Motagua vs FC Cincinnati, 10pm — Fubo, ViX.
And finally…
(George Wood/Getty Images)
Chelsea have turned to a different sport in their latest hire: Willie Isa has joined from rugby league (for those outside of the UK who are unfamiliar, The Athletic’s aficionado, Craig Chisnall, describes it as: “NFL minus the pads, backwards passing, and up to 13 players on each side on the pitch at any one time.”)
Isa, 36, arrives from Wigan Warriors in a player-support role and, despite being described as a “cultural architect”, the appointment has drawn cynicism from Chelsea fans.
“Ignore the different shape of the ball that he is associated with,” says Wigan head coach Matt Peet. “He will make the environment better and all the individuals around the environment better.”
Moving between sports is not uncommon in such roles. And with Chelsea stuttering in the Premier League, it surely can’t hurt, can it?
🏈 Speaking of cross-sport content, yesterday’s most clicked in TAFC was Eduardo Tansley’s piece on picking Premier League equivalents for NFL teams.
(Top photo: Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)
