Ronaldo’s fight was more with his own self, with an overbearing craving for all that is bold, beautiful and winnable. For all this theatrics, emotion has never been more than a put-on for Ronaldo who is blessed with a beast’s physique on which he worked endless hours in his quest to be the best. Strangely, for the last decade or so, these two have cornered all attention of the world with their subterranean race, be it for the top-scorer in their leagues, or their unbridled run towards acquiring domestic titles.
Never though, did they come face to face in a continental tournament. Russia offered the world an opportunity to watch a ‘real fight’ in flesh and blood instead of the media triggered proxy wars. Had both won their round of 16 matches on Saturday, Argentina would have faced Portugal. The argument might have got some meat.
It was not meant to be. The inevitable was long way coming. One just needed to see the world in black and white – their powers are on the wane. Messi had prematurely announced his retirement after losing in the second consecutive Copa America final in 2016. He hid it under a deadpan veneer, but truth had struck him cruelly. Ronaldo, Messi’s alter-ego, had no such compunctions. The Portuguese will fight till his legs hold up or there is even a drop of sweat left in him. With all their superlative skills, and sharing of 10 Ballon d’Or titles, both failed to score in the knockout round of the World Cup in any edition. Messi played in one final and Ronaldo in one semifinal but the mother of all accolades eluded them.