For many young Egyptian men like Ali Talaat, 26, childhood was experienced through the football games of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. This experience of a generation started with the first football match of the two players during the derby games in Madrid, which aired in the early 2000s, and continued through until the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Between the lavish arenas, the emotional cheers and tears, the titles and the trophies, and the unimaginable superstardom that can bankrupt a nation, football matches for the Messi-Ronaldo generation were more than just ninety minutes on the field. Football matches became a space for celebration, where fans could mirror the personalities of their favourite football icons: from the loud confidence of Ronaldo, who flies the flag traditional of manliness with his tall, strong physique and extroverted personality, to the genius of Messi, who sells a different kind of introverted masculine appeal. Sports performance psychologist Bill Cole once noted that a fan’s preference for Messi or Ronaldo is a reflection of that fan. Ronaldo may be preferred by those who are drawn to strong personalities and self-confidence, while Messi may appeal to people…
