Messi’s Aptitude, Ronaldo’s Attitude: What UPSC Aspirants Can Learn

Football fans can broadly be divided into two groups – Messi fans and Ronaldo fans. For Messi fans, he is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time), while for Ronaldo fans, he too is the GOAT. Both sides often highlight flaws in the other player to prove their favourite is better.

But the truth is undeniable – for the last two decades, world football has revolved around these two. Irrespective of who is greater, both Messi and Ronaldo stand as the best of their generation.

As a cricket fan, I don’t follow football deeply, but even with my limited knowledge, one thing is clear: Lionel Messi is naturally gifted – he represents aptitude. Cristiano Ronaldo, though not as naturally gifted, worked so hard on his fitness, skills, and mindset that he matched Messi – he represents attitude.

This is the classic distinction:

• Aptitude: your natural ability, talent, or skill.
• Attitude: your discipline, hard work, and determination to grow and succeed.

To be successful, you need both. Aptitude without attitude doesn’t take you far. Take cricket’s example – Vinod Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar both had immense aptitude. But only Sachin became a legend, because he had the right attitude, which Kambli lacked.

In Messi’s case, he has both aptitude and attitude. In Ronaldo’s case, his unmatched attitude compensates for what he may lack in natural aptitude, making him equally great.

Now, what can UPSC aspirants learn from this?
Some of you may already have the aptitude – analytical skills, MCQ-solving ability, writing, or communication skills. Some may have only a few of these, and some may feel you lack most of them. Does that mean cracking UPSC is impossible? Not at all.

If you lack aptitude in some areas, build it with your attitude – like Ronaldo. With discipline, sacrifice, and consistency, you can overcome your weaknesses. On the other hand, if you have aptitude but lack attitude, it won’t take you far – like Kambli.

That’s why I often admire Virat Kohli. Like Ronaldo, he may not have been the most naturally gifted cricketer, but his relentless work ethic, sacrifices in personal life, and fierce attitude turned him into one of the greatest modern-day cricketers.

Most of you may not have all the skills – and that’s perfectly fine. Be a Ronaldo, or be a Kohli. Have the mindset to give everything it takes to succeed. Be willing to make sacrifices, just like Kohli and Ronaldo did in their personal lives, so they could fully focus on sharpening their skills.

At the end of the day, UPSC – like life – is not just about how much aptitude you are born with, but how strong your attitude is.

So, if you are not a Messi, be a Ronaldo. Or better, be a Kohli. With the right attitude, you can still crack this exam.