Messi's Copa America 2024 VS Ronaldo's Euro 2024

In the world of football, no superstar can defy the relentless march of time. Why do I say so?

The 2024 Copa América and Euro 2024 have finished, yet the performances of the two biggest names in football, Messi and Ronaldo, have been less than impressive since the tournaments began. Both missed penalties, relying solely on their goalkeepers' heroic saves to stay alive.

Messi

In the 2024 Copa América quarter-finals, Argentina drew 1-1 with Ecuador in regular time. According to Copa América's unique format, a draw in knockout stages before the final leads to a penalty shootout.

Messi, always the first to take a spot kick, deceived the goalkeeper with a beautiful 'panenka' penalty, but the ball hit the crossbar and bounced out. Subsequently, Martinez saved two penalties in a row, securing a 4-2 victory over Ecuador in the shootout and advancing Argentina to the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 5-3.

Throughout this Copa América, Argentina has played four matches, with Messi resting for one due to injury. In the remaining three games, he started and played the full 270 minutes, yet scored no goals and only recorded one assist. This phase of his performance suggests that Messi is indeed growing older, a stark reminder that time waits for no one.

After a thrilling run to the final, Argentina faced a formidable Colombia. In the 65th minute, Messi was substituted due to injury. Falling to the ground without any contact, he signaled for a substitution. On the bench, Messi covered his face and wept uncontrollably.

Throughout the ordeal, he untied his boots and threw them to the ground, sobbing for three minutes straight.

For Messi, this might have been his last Copa América, and his injury withdrawal was undoubtedly a significant blow. Nevertheless, Argentina ultimately triumphed over Colombia 1-0 in extra time thanks to Lautaro Martínez's solitary goal, successfully defending their Copa América title.

Messi's journey in the Copa América evoked tears of joy and sincere admiration.

Ronaldo

The quarter-finals of Euro 2024 kicked off at night, pitting Portugal against France, the top-ranked team in Europe. Portugal's journey to the last 16 was fraught with difficulties, including a 0-0 draw against Slovenia that lasted 120 minutes.

Ronaldo missed a golden opportunity to score in regular time and subsequently failed to convert a penalty in extra time. Fortunately, Costa saved three consecutive penalties in the shootout to secure a 3-0 victory and propel Portugal into the quarter-finals.

In Euro 2024, Ronaldo started all four matches for Portugal, even insisting on playing despite Portugal's early qualification for the knockout stages and the rotation of key players in the third group stage match.

However, Ronaldo's statistics were even more disappointing than Messi's. He led the tournament in shots taken, attempting 20 shots across four matches, but failed to score a single goal, mirroring Messi's one assist.

Ronaldo was also the player with the most shots taken at Euro 2024, yet he has gone eight major tournaments (World Cups + Euros) without scoring and eleven without scoring in open play, a disheartening display of his declining form.
Notably, after the match against France, 41-year-old veteran Pepe sobbed on Ronaldo's shoulder. Ronaldo consoled his long-time teammate and battle companion, who has fought alongside him for over a decade.

This was their last Euro, and saying goodbye in such a manner was undoubtedly painful. But that's the reality; the era of Ronaldo, Pepe, and their ilk has come to an end.

As the players walked back to the locker room, the broadcast cameras lingered on Ronaldo's face, searching for the tears that so easily flowed in the past.

Yet this time, he didn't cry. As his solitary figure disappeared down the player's tunnel, the chapter of Portugal's Euro 2024 came to a close.