Scientific Research: Conservatives Prefer Ronaldo and Progressives Prefer Messi

A recent scientific study published on the SSRN platform revealed that the preference among fans between the Argentine star Lionel Messi and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo may not be just a matter of football taste, but could also be linked to individuals' political inclinations in several countries around the world.

According to the study, which included 10,661 participants from 26 countries between April and May 2026, the researchers relied on multiple statistical models to link the choice between players to factors such as political ideology, level of authoritarianism, self-esteem, and even other cognitive characteristics of the participants.

The results showed that individuals who identify themselves as "progressive" tend to prefer Messi, while those who describe themselves as "conservative" tend to choose Cristiano Ronaldo, noting that the difference is not decisive but is statistically present.

Despite these controversial results, the researchers emphasized the need to approach them with caution, noting that the study has not yet undergone full scientific peer review, and that the relationship between football and political tendencies, although present, remains limited in impact and cannot be considered a fixed rule.