World Cup 2026: Ronaldo overshadowed by… Messi

In just one day, two of the world's leading football stars created contrasting emotions. While Messi continued to affirm his value as a genius, Ronaldo appeared almost helpless in his final World Cup appearance.

Ronaldo is participating in his sixth World Cup. This is a milestone that is not only a source of great pride for the superstar himself, but also for Portugal. Even before the World Cup, the Portuguese Football Federation recognized his contributions, dedication, and record number of appearances in the world's premier tournament by awarding him a special badge on his jersey.

Ronaldo failed to score in Portugal's 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: FIFA

In Portugal's opening match against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ronaldo made his 229th appearance for the national team. Unfortunately, he and his teammates were unable to secure all three points, despite taking an early lead.

In this match, the number 7 played the full 90 minutes as a center forward. According to statistics, he only had 25 touches, completed 19 out of 21 passes, and took 3 shots, none of which hit the target.

In fact, for a player who is 41 years and 132 days old, those statistics are quite remarkable. But for Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team, the performance of one of the most anticipated stars at the 2026 World Cup was a disappointment, if not a failure.

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Ronaldo can still play football, but he no longer has the same stamina as he did in his 20s. Football is a sport that demands an extremely high level of physical fitness, in addition to physical contact and stamina. If you don't do well in these areas, then no matter how good your technique is, it will be difficult to make a difference.

Throughout the 90 minutes on the pitch, viewers could see just how "tame" Ronaldo was when facing the tall, strong defenders of Congo. The 41-year-old striker was almost invisible for most of the game and missed his most significant opportunity in the second half.

Besides his declining physical fitness at the age of 41, Ronaldo still seems unable to accept the idea that his time is over. The more he tries, the more helpless he becomes, and the more of a burden he becomes to the team.

In particular, Ronaldo's performance in the opening match showed that the number 7 midfielder was under immense pressure, especially after Messi's hat-trick just one day earlier. Playing under the pressure to "keep up with the Joneses" made Ronaldo feel like he had lead weights on his feet, lacking the agility and versatility he once possessed.

Lionel Messi called, but Ronaldo couldn't answer immediately.

Ronaldo's lackluster performance only served to highlight Messi's superiority. For a long time, these two football stars have strived to prove who is "number one," but perhaps at this World Cup, CR7 must accept the harsh reality: Messi is the true great!

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Ronaldo's fourth consecutive match for the Portuguese national team without scoring, and his tenth goalless game in major tournaments, isn't necessarily a terrible thing, but it's enough to show that making his mark at the 2026 World Cup won't be easy at all!

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/the-thao/worldcup-2026/world-cup-2026-ronaldo-mo-nhat-vi-messi-1044843