Messi, Ronaldo and the Politics of Cultural Preference

What can our preference for Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo tell us about the way we see the world?

CoHASS recently hosted “Messi, Ronaldo, and the Politics of Cultural Preference: Findings and Reflections from a 26-Country Study,” an engaging session that explored how preferences for two of football’s most recognisable figures can offer insights into broader social and political attitudes across cultures.

Led by Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed, the session drew on findings from a large-scale study spanning 26 countries. Using the long-running Messi–Ronaldo debate as a starting point, Assoc Prof Ahmed examined how sporting preferences can extend beyond the football pitch, reflecting wider cultural values, identities and perspectives.

The sharing offered participants a different lens through which to think about popular culture and its connections with society. By looking at something as familiar and widely debated as football fandom, the research highlighted how everyday preferences can provide a window into the ways people understand identity, culture and social and political issues.

The session also sparked a lively exchange among participants, with questions and discussions exploring the study’s findings and their implications across different cultural contexts.

Our sincere thanks to Assoc Prof Saifuddin Ahmed for sharing his research and leading such a thought-provoking discussion. We also extend our appreciation to CoHASS Dean, Prof Jon Wilson, and Prof Jack Qiu for organising the session, as well as NTU Chief Communications Officer Tina Taheri Moayed for joining us and supporting the event.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, both in person and online. Your questions, perspectives and participation contributed to a lively and meaningful discussion — and showed that the Messi–Ronaldo debate can lead to conversations that go far beyond football!