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Commentary: What will football look like without Messi and Ronaldo?

From CNA · () English

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources Context piece
  • Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, while Cristiano Ronaldo says the current season may be his last.
  • The pair dominated football for nearly two decades, setting records and winning major club and international titles.
  • Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal are among the players expected to define the next era, though the article says they have yet to match Messi and Ronaldo’s consistency.

Football is approaching the end of an era that seemed almost impossible to outlast. For nearly two decades, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been the sport’s most successful and recognisable players. Now the question is not whether their reign will end, but who can fill the space they leave behind.

It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come.

· Lionel MessiMessi announced his retirement from international football in an Instagram post.

Messi announced on Instagram on Aug. 31 that he was retiring from international football. “It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come,” wrote the 39-year-old Argentina captain. Ronaldo, 41, told Vogue in August that the current season was probably his last and that he wanted to leave “a spectacular legacy.”

Their careers ran in parallel and often in opposition, especially through Messi’s Barcelona and Ronaldo’s Real Madrid. From 2008 to 2017, they alternated as Ballon d’Or winners. Ronaldo collected the award five times and Messi eight. Ronaldo also leads Messi by five Champions League titles to four.

This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy.

· Cristiano RonaldoRonaldo told Vogue that his playing career may be nearing its end.

Their international records are just as striking. Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal, while Messi has 125 in 207 for Argentina. Ronaldo helped Portugal win the 2016 European Championship, its first major title, while Messi captained Argentina to the 2022 World Cup. Former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said their lasting appeal comes from the continuity of their excellence: “Your legacy is not what you did in the short term, it’s for what you did in the long term.”

People admire them for the continuity they have.

· Zlatan IbrahimovicThe former Sweden striker discussed why Messi and Ronaldo have achieved legendary status.

The next generation already has prominent candidates. Kylian Mbappe is widely seen as the leading successor after winning the 2018 World Cup and finishing as the top scorer at the 2022 and 2026 tournaments. Erling Haaland has broken Premier League scoring records, helped Manchester City win the 2023 Champions League and led Norway to the World Cup quarterfinals. Spain’s Lamine Yamal has won both the World Cup and European Championship and is seeking to return Barcelona to the top of European football. Yet none has maintained Messi’s or Ronaldo’s level for as long.

Your legacy is not what you did in the short term, it’s for what you did in the long term.

· Zlatan IbrahimovicIbrahimovic emphasised the longevity behind the pair’s reputations.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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