Brazilian football legend Ronaldo says the world should “accept” Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time, after Messi records a hat-trick in a FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Algeria. In the remarks reported by NDTV, Ronaldo frames the discussion around Messi’s performance in that game, treating the hat-trick as evidence for his claim. The report presents Ronaldo’s comments as a direct statement in an ongoing comparison between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, though it does not include any response from Cristiano Ronaldo. NDTV also notes Ronaldo’s suggestion that people should move past debate and recognize Messi’s standing at the top. The coverage focuses on the timing of the statement—coming immediately after Messi’s hat-trick in the World Cup 2026—rather than providing detailed statistical context beyond that match impact. No additional corroborating outlets are included in the provided material.