Yesterday was not quite the kind of day the two greatest players of this generation were looking forward to, it is no doubt the two wanted to progress to a further stage in this world cup than they did by getting knocked out yesterday. Before the tournament commenced, many had tipped an Argentina led Lionel Messi to reach the world cup final but the same was not the case for the Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal. Perhaps, they were right, Argentina has reached the last three finals of the major competitions they have played in, starting with the 2014 FIFA World Cup which they eventually lost to Germany before losing two COPA America finals in a row to Chile. So perhaps, many thought they would get their reprieve this year, sadly that didn't happen. Whereas Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal who won the EURO cup two years ago lived to the expectations, just like Argentina, they were not really impressive in the group stages but managed to squeeze past Iran on the final game day having drawn that game one all before eventually bowing out to a strong Uruguay team led by the deadly striking duo of Cavani and Luis Suarez who were always going to be a tougher opponent than their last two, Morocco and Iran.
On a personal level, the two had rather contrasting performances. Crsitiano Ronaldo popped up with a sublime hat-trick in his country's first game versus Spain, while Lionel Messi saw his penalty, which could have been a possible winner for Argentina against Iceland, saved by the thirty something year old film making goal keeper. So, at that moment, Ronaldo was being showered with praise, well, the press was neither scolding him nor shaming him but social media was. The ardent Cristiano Ronaldo fans were throwing jokes at him all day. While Cristiano Ronaldo went on to score one more goal in the next game against Morocco and take his tally to four for the tournament, Messi scored his only game of the tournament against Nigeria, a very sublime goal in its own rights, taking a long pass on his chest, the controlling it with a deft left foot touch before unleashing a near ferocious effort past nineteen year old Nigerian shot-stopper Uzoho. Messi went on to assist Mercardo for Argentina's second goal in the 4-3 knockout loss to France, in the process becoming the first player ever to assist in four world cups, a feat he may not have cared to take notice of since they got knocked out.
While the two were trying to help their teams go through to the next round, their fans were busy fighting about who is the greatest of all time (goat). Visibly, there seems to be no doubt that fans totally agree that the two have very much eclipsed the previous much talked about duo of Pele and Diego Maradona, or may be it is just the social media generation appreciating appreciating players of their generation. In the recent years, there has been talk of winning a trophy being able to contribute to any one of two gaining the status, especially a world cup trophy. Both have failed to land that, so far. However, Cristiano Ronaldo won the EURO cup with Portugal but does that put him a head of Messi? All his fans will say yes, it makes him the goat. Well, maybe they are right, but Messi's fans will say that is equaled by the many trophies he has won at Barcelona, which very much surpass what Ronaldo has been able to win with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon.
This debate will continue to rage way after the two players have retired. At the end of this year whoever wins the Ballon D'or will be considered to be one step ahead of the other without doubt. Whether we shall see players as good as these two in the near future is now what we shall be looking to see. Neymar has flattered around for some years now, looks like he will be the next thing, Kylian Mbappe also very much looks like a gem, hopefully he will hit the heights, there are also others like Griezmann, Hazard who may be contesting for the to prize in football starting perhaps next year. Whether they will reach the heights of Messi and Ronaldo is the question.
