The World Cup is fast approaching and should be the last chance for two of the greatest to shine on the biggest stage.
And given that neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi have ever lifted FIFA’s most prestigious trophy, the 2022 tournament in Qatar could mean more to them than ever.
Manchester United star Ronaldo will be in his 40s by the time the 2026 World Cup arrives, while an appearance for Paris-Saint Germain ace Messi at 38 is also unlikely.
If things go as planned for Portugal and Argentina, the two legendary rivals could meet in the Qatar final in December.
Still, Brazil will be among the teams looking to put an end to that, with Neymar to make up for lost time in what will be his third World Cup.
All three players have been widely touted as the best of their generation, but who has the best World Cup record?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup record
Appearances: 17
Wins: 7
Goals: 7
Assists: 2
Man of the Match Awards: 6
Best result: Semi-finals 2006, 4th
Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo won Euro 2016 and the Nations League with Portgual but the World Cup eluded him on all four of his attempts.
He made his World Cup debut in 2006 – aged 21 – and scored once against Iran as his country reached the semi-finals, eventually finishing fourth.
But that tournament was notable for his involvement in sending off then-teammate Wayne Rooney in a quarter-final penalty shoot-out victory over England, from which Ronaldo won the winning kick.
His appearance in South Africa for four years was even worse, with just one goal in four games – an 87th-minute strike in a 7-0 win over North Korea’s minnows – before a defeat in the round of 16. final against the eventual winners, Spain.
Ronaldo was looking to turn the tide at Brazil 2014 as the reigning Ballon d’Or holder and Champions League winner with Real Madrid.
Yet struggling for his fitness, the 29-year-old managed just one goal and was powerless to prevent a group stage exit for Portugal.
Russia 2018 was much more like Ronaldo, as he more than doubled his World Cup goal tally.
He netted four times – including a CE hat-trick against Spain – but again Portugal crashed out in the round of 16 with a 2-1 loss to Uruguay.
Lionel Messi’s World Cup record
Appearances: 19
Wins: 13
Goals: 6
Assists: 5
Man of the Match Awards: 6
Best ranking: Final 2014, 2nd
Lionel Messi
Messi has two international trophies to his name like Ronaldo, but again he has never seen his Argentina side cross the line in the previous four attempts.
The comparisons between the two don’t end there, with the 2006 World Cup also being Messi’s first experience on football’s biggest stage.
The then 18-year-old came off the bench in Argentina’s second game against Serbia and Montenegro and within 13 minutes scored and assisted another in a 6-0 win.
The goal means Messi remains Argentina’s youngest goalscorer at the World Cup, but he was an unused substitute in their eventual quarter-final loss on penalties to hosts Germany.
Messi’s explosion on the world stage meant he was his country’s main man four years later in 2010, but things didn’t go to plan.
The PSG star went goalless in five games before Argentina traveled to Germany in the quarter-finals, with just one assist.
Messi returned with vengeance to enemy soil at Brazil 2014, scoring four goals and one assist in seven appearances before his side fell at the final hurdle – against Germany for the third time – despite winning the title of best player of the tournament.
Messi couldn’t replicate that feat in Russia, with just one strike and a missed penalty ahead of Argentina’s round of 16 loss to eventual champions France, meaning the seven-time Ball winner d’Or has never scored in a World Cup knockout game. .
Neymar’s World Cup record
Appearances: 10
Wins: 7
Goals: 6
Assists: 3
Best ranking: Semi-finals 2014, 4th
Neymar
Messi’s PSG teammate has featured in just two World Cups, first entering the international setup after the 2010 edition.
All eyes were on Neymar as the star player at home for the World Cup in Brazil, but he started on fire, scoring four goals in his first four games.
Yet in the quarter-finals he was left with a fractured vertebra after Juan Zuniga kneed him from behind in a win over Colombia.
As a result, Neymar missed Brazil’s 7-1 loss to Germany in the last four, with Brazil also suffering a 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in his absence in the third-place playoff.
After that disappointing end to the 2014 World Cup, Neymar arrived in Russia four years later with a point to prove.
But he was rushing after a long absence and scored just one goal in Brazil’s three group matches.
Neymar looked to be finding his form in a win over Mexico in the round of 16, but his joy was cut short as he failed to prevent Brazil’s quarter-final exit to Belgium.