Post by Nanyang Technological University Singapore

Messi or Ronaldo? The answer to this age-old GOAT debate may reveal more than just your football preferences. An #NTUsg-led international survey of more than 10,000 people across 26 countries found that those who identified as more liberal tended to favour Lionel Messi, while those who identified as more conservative tended to back Cristiano Ronaldo. The study also found that respondents who consumed more news through short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram were more likely to favour Ronaldo. Led by Assoc Prof Saifuddin Ahmed from NTU's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, the research suggests that political identity may be linked to cultural preferences that appear unrelated to politics. Assoc Prof Saifuddin said: “Messi and Ronaldo project markedly different public personas. Messi is commonly associated with a quieter, team-oriented image, while Ronaldo is known for openly expressing his ambition and celebrating individual achievement. People may be more drawn to the player whose public image aligns with their broader values.” The findings shed light on how people connect with public figures, and how factors such as political values, media habits and self-perception may shape those connections across different societies. Dig into the match analysis: https://lnkd.in/gqherDi5 #NTUsgResearch #NTUsgInternational #NTUsgProfs #Football