End of An Era? Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Set Similar Unwanted International Stats

• An interesting stat has emerged suggesting we are getting closer to the end of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s respective careers
• Messi and Ronaldo are with their national teams for the Copa America and Euro 2024 respectively with both their teams making it to the knockout stages
• The pair have enjoyed a rivalry that spanned more than 15 years at the highest level of the game, but are now playing outside Europe

We are getting closer to the end of an iconic era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Two of the greatest players to ever play the game of football set an unwanted record with their respective nations, as they both failed to score in the group stage of the Copa America and Euro 2024.

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The ageing superstar duo are still integral members of their national squads, with Ronaldo featuring in all three of Portugal’s group games.

Messi, who turned 37 in June, played in Argentina’s opening two group games but missed the clash against Peru on Sunday, June 30, 2024, due to a leg injury.

Comparing Messi and Ronaldo’s tournaments

In a strange coincidence, both players provided assists for their younger counterparts in their respective second group games.

Ronaldo unselfishly set up Bruno Fernandes to score in a 3-0 rout over Turkey on Saturday, June 22, 2024, while Messi was crucial in sending La Albiceleste to the last eight of the Copa America with an 88th minute assist to Lautaro Martinez.

In terms of competitiveness, Messi appears to have an easier time compared to his counterpart.

Argentina has had a fairly direct route to the Copa America quarter-finals. At the same time, Ronaldo’s Euro 2024 campaign has been marred with a mixture of frustrating performances, controversial refereeing decisions and an overall lack of goals.

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During Portugal’s defeat against Georgia, Ronaldo was spotted berating his opponents in frustration at half-time over a first-half penalty incident.

He only managed one shot on target against Georgia and failed to complete a single dribble, according to The Mirror.

What next for Messi and Ronaldo?

Messi’s challenges at the Copa America mainly revolve around his fitness, and it is yet to be seen whether he will be fit enough to play in his team’s next game on Friday, July 5.

For Ronaldo, Portugal faces an uphill task if they are to pull off the success they managed in the 2016 Euros.

Roberto Martinez’s side are in the same knockout bracket as France, Belgium, Spain and Germany, who recently knocked out Denmark.

Messi wrestled down by Chile midfielder

Sports Brief also reported on an interesting incident where Messi was wrestled down by a Chile midfielder.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was running into space to receive a pass, but one of the Chile players he dribbled past physically manhandled him in hilarious yet unfortunate scenes.