Ronaldo and Messi Play Chess: 5 Interesting Facts You Might Not Know

Without a ball in sight, both players appeared to be deeply engrossed in an intense game of chess on a Louis Vuitton suitcase. This photo quite literally "broke the internet" within hours. However, there’s more to this picture than meets the eye. Curious yet?

1. The Chess Pieces

The chess pieces on the board were not arranged randomly. This moment actually recreates a crucial situation from a 2017 match between chess masters Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. Although Ronaldo seems to have the upper hand, chess fans know that this game ended in a draw. This detail symbolizes the never-ending debate about who truly is the greatest of all time – Ronaldo or Messi.

2. Same Room, Different Times

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Messi and Ronaldo were not photographed together. Annie Leibovitz, the mastermind behind this photo, supposedly had the two footballers pose in their assigned positions at different times and locations, then combined them in post-production. Ronaldo, for example, posed in front of a simple grey wall, which helped seamlessly blend him into the original backdrop.

3. The Symbolism

In chess, white always makes the first move, giving black a disadvantage. This could imply that Ronaldo, being older, started his professional career before Messi. Alternatively, it might signify Ronaldo's many physical advantages over Messi, such as height, build, and speed.

On the other hand, thanks to his low center of gravity, excellent game IQ, and nearly unmatched technical ability, Messi could be considered the biologically ideal football player.

4. When Legends Tweet

This photo quickly went viral on all social media platforms, catching the attention of chess masters Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. These players, who share a history of long-term rivalry much like Ronaldo and Messi, took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the game with a bit of good-natured humor.

Nakamura, sharing the iconic photo, wrote, "I was wondering why this chess position looked familiar!" Carlsen, known for his witty comments, added, "Second greatest rivalry of our time mimicking the greatest."

5. A Historic Encounter

The "Victory is a State of Mind" campaign by Louis Vuitton sparked speculation about Messi's Argentina and Ronaldo's Portugal potentially facing off in the finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Both legends were playing their fifth and final World Cup that season. The fact that they were photographed playing chess on the very Louis Vuitton suitcase used to hold the World Cup trophy made these speculations even more real.

For now, we can only watch with bated breath as these giants carve their place in football history.

But no matter what happens, this was a fantastic promotion for chess!

What do you think?

What do you believe has recently helped chess the most? Was it the series "The Queen's Gambit," or the legal drama between Carlsen and Niemann? Perhaps it's Nakamura's massive YouTube following? Will the upcoming World Championship and the anticipation of whether world champion Ding Liren can rise above his shadows boost interest in chess? Whatever comes to your mind and whatever you remember will surely be interesting.