CRISTIANO RONALDO HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF HOLDING BACK PORTUGAL'S EURO 2024 CAMPAIGN, WHILE LIONEL MESSI IS WITHOUT A GOAL IN COPA AMERICA BUT ESCAPES SIMILAR CRITICISM... SO WHY ARE THE ALL-TIME GREATS PERFORMING POORLY?

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Cristiano Ronaldo has come in for heavy criticism during Portugal's Euro 2024 campaign. 

The competition's all-time leading scorer, his nation's, perhaps even Europe's, greatest-ever player has not been shielded from the deluge of dissent directed his way. 

Though words have been harsh, it has not been without merit. Ronaldo spearheads one of the best international squads ever assembled. Yet, with him a shadow of his former self, the sum of Portugal is far less than its parts. 

This analysis has not been evident when it comes to Lionel Messi, who is also proving the absolute truth of Father Time's undefeated record. 

Like his old foe, Messi is competing in his continental competition and like his old foe he is yet to score. The Inter Miami star, no doubt jealous of the attention - however negative - Ronaldo was receiving, also missed a penalty before getting bailed out by is team-mates.

The similarities are striking, but not at all surprising. In the case of Al-Nassr's Ronaldo, he has been on a mission to find the net in regulation time, extending his ludicrous Euros goalscoring record and becoming the first man to score at six different editions. 

His performance against Slovenia, which saw Portugal scrape into the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out win, could not have demonstrated this, frankly unhealthy, desire better. 

The 39-year-old had a total of eight shots, including one from the penalty spot that was expertly saved by Jan Oblak. That led to a flood of tears from the man who was on the cusp of becoming the competition's oldest scorer. 

That isn't to say that boys shouldn't cry, rather a statement on how odd it was to see 25-year-old Diogo Dalot adopt the role Ronaldo should have as mentor and national team captain. 

When 17-year-old Ronaldo wept on the field of the Estadio da Luz after Portugal shock 2004 final defeat by Greece, his emotion was understood as that of an inexperienced person and player confronting failure for the first time. 

When he cried upon being forced to leave the pitch during the Euro 2016 final, after injury looked to have cruelly ended his chances of winning a major tournament with his nation, it was completely understandable, touching even. 

But Monday's emotion had a less obvious explanation. Yes, he had missed a spot-kick that would have all but punched Portugal's ticket to the last-eight. But this was no final. Individuals and teams routinely recover from that situation. 

Indeed, to his credit, after finally composing himself, Ronaldo dispatched the first effort in Portugal's victorious shoot-out. It is clear that his country brings the most out of him. 

And his tears were of clear symbol of his desperation not to succeed for only himself but for every supporter of his nation. His celebration during the shootout - his hands together as if in prayer to show his contrition for his earlier failure - was evidence of that. 

Perhaps that desperation makes it easy for fans and pundits to poke fun and jeer when he fails to meet the absurd standards he has set during his career. Messi seems to have the opposite issue. 

'Messi doesn’t care anymore,' wrote one fan on X after the 37-year-old's panenka during Argentina's penalty shootout win over Ecuador was missed the target. 

'Bro you are not Zidane,' said another, in a reference to the Frenchman's effort in the 2006 World Cup final. While a third noted: 'Dude what’s going on? Two of the greatest players ever missing pens in crucial games? End times are here people.' 

Messi's lame attempt came at the end of yet another goalless game for the superstar. In this one he played the full compliment of minutes - 90 because there is no extra-time in his this year's Copa America - but had only one shot, one unsuccessful dribble and lost possession nine times. 

It's easy to see why there were some insisting the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner showed signs of apathy. Luckily for him, he has an incredibly talented roster around him, the reigning South American and World champions no less. Notwithstanding, Messi's incredible contribution to both of those feats. 

Still, both all-time greats have undoubtedly reached a Rubicon. No longer playing in a top European league and not just past their best but perhaps, and this feels blasphemous, worse than at any point of their professional careers. 

But when you have achieved all that you have and are adored by team-mates who idolised you growing up as kids, it's difficult to call it quits and they're almost certainly not going to oust you. 

Ronaldo offered a glimpse into his future plans after Portugal's win over Slovenia, and claimed that this would be his final European Championship. That needs to be seen before it is believed. 

Messi has made no such proclamation but this is a man who has retired from international duty and returned on at least two occasions. 

For all the slander aimed at the pair, some of which has come in this very article, their teams are still in with a very good chance of winning their respective competitions this summer. 

Portugal take on France in the quarter-finals on Friday, while Argentina booked their spot in the last-four with victory at the NRG Stadium in Houston on Thursday. For as long as Argentina and Messi have the likes of Alexis MacAllister, Lautaro Martinez and Emi Martinez to come to the rescue, they'll be more than happy to carry Messi with the expectation he will provide a singularly unique moment of quality in their hour of need. 

The same goes for Ronaldo, though you feel this is where perception of the two ultimately diverges. The veteran striker has now gone eight major tournament matches without a goal, with his lack of production during the 2022 World Cup coming after a dismal and unwise Old Trafford reunion. 

Put plainly, he has been a diminished version of himself for longer and with him being two years Messi's senior, it's that's perfectly reasonable. This moment will also come for the Argentine, maybe we're witnessing it in real time.  

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2024-07-05T16:38:57Z dg43tfdfdgfd