[스포티비뉴스=월드컵특별취재팀 박대성 기자] Cristiano Ronaldo (37)’s ‘Last Dance’ is not over. There were reports of him retiring as a player, but he is expected to play for the Euros in two years. However, when looking at his performance at the Qatar World Cup and his career this season, the gap with Lionel Messi (35) widens.
Ronaldo divided world football with Messi for 10 years. He competed with Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Spanish Primera Liga as the best rivals. He competed fiercely in the European Football Federation (UEFA) Champions League and even competed for the Ballon d’Or every other year.
In 2016, while embracing the Euro Trophy with the Portuguese national team, he embraced the national team title that Messi did not have. However, Messi also continued the tense ‘Meho War’ by winning the first championship for Argentina’s national team A at the Copa America.
However, in the twilight of their careers, the gap is gradually widening. Ronaldo returned to Manchester United following a 12-year hiatus last summer, but this season he was excluded from coach Eric Ten Hag’s plans. He was terminated with an interview aimed at Manchester United right before the World Cup and became a free agent (FA).
I want to continue my record in the Champions League, so I am in contact with a top team in Europe, but there is no response. He even showed poor performance at Manchester United, and his performance in the World Cup was important, but criticism only increased.
He scored one goal as a starter in the group stage, but was on the bench from the knockout stage of the round of 16. He came on as a substitute in the second half of the quarterfinal match once morest Morocco, but his athleticism declined and his speed was not as fast as in previous years. The global sports media ‘The Athletic’ criticized him as “Cristiano Ronaldo. Yesterday’s man”.
On the other hand, Messi was still active as the core and best player in Argentina. He increased his offensive points in all matches except for the third group stage match once morest Poland. Nong-ik led the Argentine attack with sharpness that did not fade in his game.
He also broke many records. With the opening goal on the day, he set a tie record since 1966 with 11 goals and 8 assists in his World Cup career, as well as the most goals in Argentina’s history (11 goals). Tied with Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo and Gerd Müller.
He even achieved a record that Maradona had never experienced. Messi made his name as the first player since 1966 to record both goals and assists in four World Cup finals. In recording his 25th World Cup appearance, he tied Lothar A Matheus for the most appearances of all time, the sole leader if they make it to the final.
If Messi wins the World Cup, the long ‘Meho War’ will come to an end. Even if he doesn’t win, Messi has the upper hand. Messi continues his Champions League record at Paris Saint-Germain, although the Saudi Arabian team is the only one approaching Ronaldo.
