One thing I’ve learnt after tracking Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi’s extraordinary sporting record, is never to write off one or the other, because each has a proven capacity to get back up with another surprise demonstration of their genius. It’s been the case for the last ten years during which they have developed into an unprecedented rivalry , together busting every major record in the game.
The World Cup in Russia so far belongs to Cristiano, who , at the age of 33, today broke further goal scoring records-that of Puskas and his own-, defying those that had concluded that his less than gracious comments at the end of the Champion’s League final suggested that an era might be coming to an end.
In fact it always seemed only too evident to me that Ronaldo’s threat to quit Real Madrid was part of a strategy simply to get more money and more recognition, and that he was entering the World Cup tournament highly motivated to prove, once again, that he was worth it.
And so it has proved in his first two games , the undisputed star of a somewhat lacklustre but so far , with him in the team, undefeated Portugal, bringing to mind the possibility that he might take them to the final just as Diego Maradona did with a similarly mediocre Argentine team in Mexico 1986.
But then it was comparisons with Pele and Cruyff that spun off the lips of one BBC TV commentator today, not Maradona- a name that still hangs like a dark shadow over Messi.
Not only was Maradona glimpsed grumpily observing Messi’s failed penalty against Iceland , but his legend permeated the collective criticism that was subsequently launched by the Argentine media and social media hounds at the Barca player who was accused once again of badly letting down his nation.
Thus while today Cristiano remained elevated in the pantheon of football Gods, Messi awaited what could be a defining match of his career tomorrow , having to face up to the challenge of rescuing his reputation when Argentina face Croatia, a potentially much harder to beat team than Iceland. Like prize fighters, battling out in every round, it is Messi who is clearing losing by points so far in this World Cup- but beware of writing him off, quite yet.The greatest drama of modern football continues.
