Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 are in full swing. Euro 2024 knockout stages are underway while Copa America is in the final round of its group stages. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both are through to the next round as they look to claim their continent’s ultimate prize for the second time.
Despite Messi and Ronaldo safely reaching the knockout stages, there has been a rare sight as both football icons failed to score a goal in the group stage of a major tournament.
Messi provided an 88th-minute assist to Lautauro Martinez in Argentina’s first match against Canada to clinch a 2-0 victory. La Albiceleste won their second game 1-0 against Chile, with Lautauro Martinez again on the scoresheet.
The Inter Miami forward was not involved in Argentina’s final match against Peru due to an injury scare. La Albiceleste did manage to win the game 2-0.
Portugal on the other hand saw off Czechia in their opening Euro 2020 match. Ronaldo did manage did make an assist but was deemed as offside after a VAR check.
The Euro 2016 European Champions defeated Turkiye 3-0 in their second match with Ronaldo making his seventh career assist at the Euros, which is the most by any player.
Portugal were somewhat sloppy in their final group match losing to newcomers Georgia 2-0.
Argentina await the runners-up of Group B for their quarter-final clash while Portugal will face Slovenia in their Round of 16 match of the Euro 2024.
Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: One Final Dance?
The storied rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi may have a fairytale ending as the two legends have a chance to meet for one final time in a proper football match.
If Portugal win the Euro 2024 and Argentina lift the Copa America, we will witness the next edition of the “Finalissima” featuring these two football legends.
The “Finalissima” is an intercontinental football match played between the winners of the European Championships and the winners of Copa America after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between CONMEBOL and UEFA.
Given that both the Portuguese and Albiceleste are among the favorites to lift their respective continental competitions this year, one final meeting between two footballing icons is a genuine possibility.
In the last “Finalissima”, Argentina beat Italy 3-0 at Wembley Stadium. Football fans around the world undoubtedly wish that Portugal and Argentina lift their respective competitions this season so that we can witness one final dance of Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
