London, November 7 (BUS): The World Cup stage is set to take place in a final penalty shoot-out between perhaps the greatest footballers of their generation and for many, the two greatest players of all time.
Certainly, this year’s tournament in Qatar gives Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo one last chance to win the final title, reports the Associated Press.
Even with their impressive stamina, they are unlikely to be in the next tournament in 2026 when Messi is 39 and Ronaldo is 41.
Perhaps the only players who can still challenge Messi and Ronaldo’s supremacy in the history books, Pele and Diego Maradona have earned their reputation from their accomplishments on this stage.
Pele won the title three times with Brazil, while Maradona led Argentina to the title in 1986 with a brilliant individual performance that left an indelible mark on the tournament.
For all their genius, Argentina’s Messi and Portugal’s Ronaldo have yet to imitate the two men who have spent their careers trying to surpass them.
These are the final stages of their career, which has seen them take part in 12 Ballon d’Ors, nine Champions League titles, 18 League titles and plenty more. But the addition of the World Cup will be definitive at a time when both players see their strength waning.
“I am lucky to be able to participate in this World Cup at the age of 35,” the Argentine told DirectTV in October. “After the World Cup, we’ll see what can happen in my career.”
Meanwhile, Ronaldo heads to Qatar where his career was in shambles after he failed to secure a move away from Manchester United and was lost to coach Eric Ten Hag.
Last month, he was left out of the squad and had to train away from the first team as a penalty for refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham.
At this point, it is impossible to judge the state in which he might be mentally or physically at the World Cup.
Likewise, it is impossible to dismiss a player who has set new standards over and over again even by the end of his playing days. He recently scored his 700th goal with the club.
Among the top competitors, Messi now appears to have the advantage. Even if he does not repeat his best years at Barcelona since joining PSG, he has proven to be even more influential in his second season in France, with goals pouring in again.
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