On one of the highest scoring games in the World Cup history since 1970, the ‘GOATS’ – Greatest Of All Time failed to find the back of the net against a star studded France and defensively solid Uruguay. And, with Messi and Ronaldo aged 31 and 33 respectively, their hopes of claiming the game’s biggest prize seem to be all over.
Their careers have been discussed, debated and perhaps over analyzed. They have swapped titles and individual honours at the club level, playing for two of biggest clubs in modern day football.
But, they have failed to fire at a stage where it matters the most. 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe and Cavani twice, Pavard, di Maria, Griezman, Aguero, Gabriel Mercado and Pepe once, managed to score in the knockout stages of the World Cup, which the legendary duo has failed to achieve in their 4 World Cup participations.
They have done everything to carry the burden of hopes of millions of fans across the globe but have clearly not done enough to be termed as the deserved winners of the wondrous golden trophy.
Individuals honours and playing for teams that buy, spend and poach, do make you look great but winning it for an incomplete team makes you the greatest in the business.
Messi has played 756 minutes in the World Cup knock-stages since 2006, but failed to score a single goal while Ronaldo, on the other hand, spent 514 minutes in the Knock-out rounds and has failed to score or even find an assist.
The Argentina’s number 10 has 6 goals and 7 assists to his name in 19 matches across 4 World Cups. Ronaldo has 7 goals and 2 assists in 16 matches in as many World Cups.
These stats just show without quality players supporting them on the pitch, Messi and Ronaldo are nothing when it comes to facing good teams.
World Cup is a stage where champions are made. It is not a king’s game; FIFA World Cup is actually a ‘King Maker’. And, as the history goes, whoever has tasted success at the World Cup is less remembered for his achievements at the club level.
Diego Maradona, was the top scorer for Napoli for almost three decades but his heroics in 1986 World Cup to single-handedly guide Argentina to glory, put him on the list of greatest players ever to grace the football pitch.
Ronaldo Nazario, known for his dribbling skills and clinical finishing, in his 21-year career collected major accolades, including the FIFA World Player of the Year (Thrice) and Ballon d’OR (twice), for seven different clubs but is always remembered for his goal-scoring feat in World Cups where he managed 16 goals in just three tournaments, including the 2 against Germany to help his side win the fifth WC title for Brazil in 2002.
Talking about the highest goal-scorer in the history of FIFA World Cup, Germany’s Miroslav Klose has fired 16 goals in 4 competitions, breaking Ronaldo’s record of 15 goals at the WC, on an eventful night, inflicting the heaviest semi-final defeat ever when the eventual champions thumped hosts Brazil 7-1 in 2014.
Famously known as “Miro’”, the striker helped Germany finish runners up in the 2002 Korea/Japan edition, third in 2006 & 2010 and powered them to the title in 2014.
His records and achievements would have meant nothing, had Germany not won the World Cup in 2014.
With FIFA World Cup approaching its business end, a new hero will rise; a champion will be born and will join the debate to be GREATEST OF ALL TIME.