Modern legends face legacy-defining moment

2 years ago 65

The uninspiring show by hosts Qatar successful the opening crippled of the 2022 World Cup, wherever they were easy brushed speech by Ecuador 2-0, encapsulated the troublesome build-up to this tourney wherever the issues of quality rights and migrant workers proceed to beryllium debated.

This World Cup, though, besides signals perchance the past clip 2 of the top players ever to play shot - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - volition diagnostic for their respective countries.

Messi has each but confirmed that this volition beryllium his last World Cup erstwhile speaking to ESPN astir Qatar 2022.

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"It's my past World Cup surely. I'm counting down the days to the World Cup," helium said.

Ronaldo has suggested that helium would similar to play successful the European Championships successful 2024, erstwhile helium volition beryllium 40, but caller signifier struggles with Manchester United constituent to a fig whose powers are connected the wane.

Ronaldo has not officially confirmed whether helium volition discontinue from planetary shot aft the World Cup but besides stated successful an interrogation with big broadcaster beIN Sports that, similar Messi, this astir apt volition beryllium his past Cup.

"I expect Qatar could beryllium my last World Cup," Ronaldo said.

"I often spell connected holidays there, to Qatar arsenic good arsenic Dubai. I americium blessed due to the fact that for definite it volition beryllium past planetary tournament."

Messi and Ronaldo person shared 12 Ballon d'ors betwixt them portion notching up bonzer goal-scoring feats on the way, which has seen Ronaldo nett 818 goals successful 1139 vocation matches portion Messi sits astatine 785 goals successful 994 vocation games.

The rivalry the men person shared passim their careers has seen them standard antecedently unmapped heights portion besides sharing a thirst for some idiosyncratic and squad success.

The mode some person navigated their careers has embodied 2 antithetic philosophies, portion dealing with an extracurricular anticipation of changeless excellence.

Messi for overmuch of his career, particularly erstwhile it comes to playing for Argentina, has battled the agelong shadiness of the precocious Diego Maradona.

The diminutive statue and wand of a near ft was ever going to spot Messi adjacent to Maradona, particularly erstwhile it came to his show for Argentina.

This examination astatine times has seemed to beryllium excessively overmuch for adjacent Messi to handle, but arsenic Argentina counts down to its archetypal crippled against Saudi Arabia, the relaxed demeanour of Messi and his teammates - arsenic good arsenic the assurance of coming into the tourney connected a 36-game winning streak - has renewed anticipation that helium tin yet bring backmost the 1 portion of silverware which has eluded him passim his career.

Ronaldo, connected the different hand, has experienced a little than perfect mentation with his deficiency of crippled clip astatine Manchester United starring him to take portion successful the now-infamous interrogation with Piers Morgan wherever helium criticised United for the deficiency of respect helium has been shown since returning to the club.

Regardless of Ronaldo's nine signifier helium remains an integral portion of an breathtaking Portugal squad which is bringing galore young talents to Qatar, including AC Milan winger Rafael Leo.

How Portugal utilise Ronaldo volition beryllium interesting, arsenic manager Fernando Santos volition beryllium alert his captain's carnal capabilities are - for the archetypal clip - being questioned successful a vocation which has been defined by power, spot and velocity combined with technique.

If this is to beryllium the last curtain telephone for these shot giants the anticipation is some volition beryllium capable to elevate a World Cup with their on-field performances, and astatine slightest for a little clip punctual shot fans wherefore it is coined 'the beauteous game'.

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