Messi and Ronaldo both create sad records

For the first time, both superstars Messi and Ronaldo finished the group stage of a major tournament without being able to score any goals.
Ronaldo just had a sad record when he had a streak of 4 matches without scoring at Euro 2024, including 3 group stage matches, along with missing a penalty in the match against Slovenia in the round of 16 early this morning, July 2.

As for Lionel Messi, he is also in a sad scoring form, for the first time since Copa America 2011, Messi finished the group stage of an official international tournament without being able to score a goal.

Messi and Ronaldo both set sad records. Photo: GETTY
Lionel Messi and Argentina began their 2024 Copa America campaign with a 2-0 win over Canada. In this match, Messi provided a delicate assist for Lautaro Martinez to score the winning goal in the 88th minute. However, “El Pulga” himself was unlucky in this match, missing 3 one-on-one opportunities to score.

In the match against Chile, Messi also impressed when he created 5 chances, had a passing accuracy of 94%, and successfully dribbled 7/11 times. However, Lautaro Martinez is the most outstanding player in La Albiceleste’s attack at the moment when he has 4 goals after 3 matches.

Messi missed a golden opportunity in the match against Canada. Photo: GETTY
Leaving South America and heading to Europe, Portugal kicked off their Euro campaign with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic thanks to a last-minute winner from youngster Francisco Conceicao. Ronaldo himself had a lacklustre game as he failed to capitalise on scoring opportunities. In the match against Turkey, CR7 was largely shut out , but he still managed to provide an assist for Bruno Fernandes to score the winner.

In the final match of the group stage, against a Georgian team that played with an indomitable spirit, the Euro 2016 champions received a cold shower when they lost 0-2. Ronaldo in this match was almost invisible, only touching the ball 18 times, creating only one chance, receiving a yellow card for reacting to the referee before being substituted in the 66th minute. He himself in the match in the round of 16 against Slovenia this morning also missed a penalty kick and Portugal had to rely on the excellence of goalkeeper Costa in the penalty shootout to win.

Ronaldo cried after missing a penalty. Photo: GETTY
Both superstars Messi and Ronaldo have high expectations when they play for their respective national teams. However, asking them to shine all the time is impossible at the moment because they are getting older. Ronaldo tried his best in the matches against Georgia and Slovenia, although he did not score and missed a good chance. The same goes for Messi, who failed to score against Canada and Chile before having to sit out the match against Peru due to fitness issues.

Perhaps both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have reached their limits. We, football fans, should cherish and enjoy the moments when they are still playing for the national team because the day when both of them leave football is approaching. Ronaldo himself admitted this when he choked up after the match and shared: “Euro 2024 will be the last tournament I participate in, this will be a certainty.