Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi: Social Media's Most Trolled Athletes

The Rivalry Beyond the Pitch

In the realm of football, few rivalries ignite as much fervor and division as that between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. However, off the field, a different kind of competition unfolds: the incessant trolling they face on social media platforms. A recent study has highlighted which high-profile athletes are most frequently labeled as 'washed' or 'cooked' online.

Social Media Analysis Reveals Rankings

According to findings from Action Network, LeBron James tops the list, followed closely by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. This analysis covered social media interactions from March 1, 2024, to March 1, 2025, examining a staggering 88.3 million posts across platforms like X, Instagram, and Reddit. The study focused on 100 elite athletes, including names like Aaron Rodgers and Conor McGregor, to see who faced the most derogatory labels.

LeBron James was mentioned in 17,183,280 posts, with 68,080 of those referring to him as washed or cooked. Ronaldo secured the second spot with 39,600 mentions out of 16,477,020 posts, while Messi followed closely with 39,220 mentions from 17,243,280 posts.

Memes and Social Media Banter

Following a tense match against Al Hilal, where Ronaldo was seen in a headlock maneuver, the social media team of the Saudi club humorously compared him to WWE superstar John Cena in a TikTok video featuring his wrestling move set to Cena's entrance theme. Fans of Ronaldo's current team, Al Nassr, took to social media to celebrate their 9-0 victory over Al-Okhdood, even in Ronaldo's absence.

In a similar vein, Lionel Messi faced his share of playful jabs after Inter Miami's 5-2 defeat to Atlanta United. The Atlanta United social media team cheekily referenced Messi's rumored favorite pizza toppings—tomatoes, onions, and olives—implying they enjoyed the same dish on their way home, serving up a slice of trolling aimed at the Argentine.

Other Notable Athletes in the Mix

The report also highlighted several other well-known footballers, including Casemiro, Neymar, İlkay Gündoğan, Kyle Walker, and Christian Eriksen, who are also part of this social media narrative.