Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have defined football for a generation, but they’re finally winding down and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar seems to be their last dance. How are the two modern legends comparing at this biggest stage in the twilight of their careers?
Mexico veteran Andres Guardado is the only other player to have featured at each of the last five World Cups going back to 2006. This is almost certainly Messi and Ronaldo’s last chance to lift the most prestigious trophy of them all, and the only one that still exudes them both.
Naturally, there’s no shortage of focus on the two captains. Messi comes into the tournament off the back of brilliant form for PSG, with Argentina being talked up by many as the pre-tournament favourites. As ever, there’s noise around Cristiano Ronaldo, who is officially a free agent after terminating his contract at Manchester United. He departed the club after giving a controversial interview on the eve of the World Cup.
Messi finished runner-up in 2014, with Mario Gotze’s extra-time strike proving the match-winner in a 1-0 victory for Germany over Argentina, while the furthest Ronaldo has made it is to the semi-finals, where Portugal lost 1-0 by beaten finalists France in 2006.
“Players aren’t fearful of Lionel Messi anymore. They are taking the ball off him easily,” said former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville, speaking as a pundit during the half-time analysis of Argentina’s clash with Mexico
“You can’t speak enough about how great this guy is. But honestly the devastation I’ve seen at Old Trafford for 18 months, when a player of such stature has that body language, the impact it has on the players is devastating. He’s walking around the pitch, he’s shrugging his shoulders at them.”
Neville was made to eat his words somewhat when Messi scored a brilliant long-range opener to break the deadlock against Mexico before assisting Enzo Fernandez in a 2-0 win. The pressure was firmly on Messi and his team-mates following a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening fixture. Messi’s spot-kick gave Argentina an early lead but they went on to let it slip.
Argentina then sealed their place in the knockout stages with a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Poland, but they were made to sweat when Messi missed a first-half penalty.
Messi has two goals and one assist so far, but how do those numbers compare to the output of his old rival?
“I am looking forward to seeing him…
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