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Absolute masters of football for nearly two decades, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are preparing to play their fifth and most likely last World Cup in Qatar. The opportunity for them to lift the only trophy missing from their collection and, why not, offer an ultimate duel of anthology to football lovers.
For a long time, they left only the crumbs for other footballers. Rivals, they reigned over football and the 2010s. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are preparing to play what will most likely be their last World Cup at 35 and 37 respectively. In this context, their performances will necessarily be scrutinized as they try to take the opportunity to lift the ultimate trophy that has resisted them throughout their long career.
The statistics of these would make anyone green with envy: twelve Ballons d’Or between them, nine Champions Leagues, 1,604 goals and 581 assists. Something to make you dizzy. Their rivalry and their duels have left lovers of the “beautiful game” dreaming more than once.
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“Messi and Ronaldo have totally different styles, it’s Olivier Atton and Mark Landers (the great rivals of the cartoon Olive and Tom, editor’s note). Loving one often means hating the other”, explained Alexandre Seban, author from ‘Messi vs Ronaldo: who’s better?’ (Éd. Solar), in 2021 at France 24.
Ronaldo in turmoil
Still, the two champions have been declining for several years. It has been two years since either of them appeared in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the queen competition for football clubs. Worse: Cristiano Ronaldo did not even play the last edition, his club, Manchester United having simply qualified for the Europa League.
At 37, the Portuguese is going through the most complicated season of his career. Since August, the five-time Ballon d’Or has been used very little by the new manager of the Red Devils, the Dutchman Erik ten Hag, and has even been sanctioned for refusing to come on as a substitute. Since the start of the season, he has scored only three small goals. At the peak of his career, he put on as much every week!
With the Seleçao, his last goals date back to last June, a double in a victory against Switzerland in the League of Nations (4-0), followed by three empty matches for the record holder of international scorers (117 goals in 191 matches ).
The instability caused by Ronaldo’s situation only increases doubts about Portugal’s ability to put on a good tournament.
“We are all used to dealing with great pressure, I don’t think it brings more pressure to anyone,” wanted to reassure attacking midfielder Joao Mario on Tuesday at a press conference.
“Total and absolute concentration on the work of the national team. A united group, towards a single objective: to realize the dream of all Portuguese people!” Promised Ronaldo on social networks.
He would see himself repeating the coup of 2016, when Portugal had been the unexpected winner of the Euro in France, carried by its star, despite a workforce that is however modest compared to the current armada. At the individual level, the challenge for Cristiano will also be by scoring a goal to become the only player in history to score in 5 editions of the World Cup.
Messi, the last shine?
On the side of Messi, things are better. The 2021-2022 season, marked by his exile to PSG – only the second club of his career after FC Barcelona – saw the “Pulga” struggle to find his place in the Parisian workforce. We have to believe that the new coach Christophe Galthier has found the formula: the MNM – nickname of the Parisian trident Messi – Neymar – Mbappé – shines with a thousand lights: 46 goals and 31 assists for the three friends. With 12 goals and 14 assists for Messi appears more like the builder.
Above all, Leo, 35, appeared sharp and inspired as rarely. It must be said that the No. 10 and captain of Argentina has his eyes riveted on the trophy, the one missing from his incredible collection of 41 titles.
He can believe it. Especially since he finally won a victory with the Albiceleste. Indeed, after a world final lost in 2014 against Germany (1-0 ap) and two Copa America finals lost against Chile (2014/2015), the elf finally won a competition with his national team: the Copa America 2021.
His Argentina is even undefeated for 35 games and she believes in her star, which would be the third on her jersey after 1978 and 1986 and could finally make Messi the equal of Diego Maradona in the minds of the Argentines.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are not, however, the only two sacred monsters of football who are probably playing their last World Cup. Their great rival for the years 2020 and 2021, Lewandosky, risks having his last world adventure with Poland in Qatar. Ballon d’Or 2022 Karim Benzema will try to lead France to a second straight win. Sergio Ramos, who is also playing his fifth World Cup, must supervise the very young Spanish selection.
Anyway, it seems that it is in the old pots that we make the best cuts!
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