As a sports data analyst with a NYU degree and deep roots in Brazilian football culture, I’ve been tracking the bizarre shift in fan perception: when Al-Nassr beat Manchester City, fans praised Ronaldo for 'proving Saudi Pro League is elite.' Meanwhile, Messi’s 16th-place finish with Inter Miami sparked backlash—despite his individual brilliance. This isn’t about stats alone. It’s about narrative bias, media framing, and how we reward context over performance. Let’s break it down—cold, hard numbers meet real-world emotion.