Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi used to be two stars that dominated world football for more than a decade. But now it’s time for the SiRo era to fade into the past.
Messi and PSG were defeated by Real
In the summer of 2021, Messi left Barcelona on a free transfer to join PSG. He is expected to lead the Paris team to win the Champions League after many years of desire. However, in the end, “La Pulga” not only did not contribute anything to the new team but also was one of the reasons why PSG was eliminated early in the European arena.
PSG won 1-0 at home against Real Madrid in the first leg of the 1/8 round. They also soon took the lead in the second leg at the opponent’s field. However, the French team let Karim Benzema score 3 goals in just 17 minutes to make a surprise comeback.
Before that, the Paris team was eliminated from the Coupe de France. In Ligue 1, PSG has definitely won. This means Messi will play the final months of the season meaningless. This is a season where La Pulga no longer has the motivation to play when the new season is 2/3 of the way.
Personally, Messi’s form since joining PSG is also very disappointing. Up to now, Messi has only 2 goals in Ligue 1 2021/22. He still contributed quite well with 11 assists, but the fact that a big star has only got 2 goals is an alarm.
In the Champions League, Messi has scored 5 goals in 7 games but all of these goals were in the group stage. In two matches against Real in the 1/8 round, Leo almost disappeared. He even missed a penalty in the first leg.
Messi’s contract with PSG lasts 2 years. And the first season will end in disappointment. It is difficult to predict what Messi will do next.
Ronaldo empty-handed with Manchester United
Just a week after Messi and PSG were eliminated in the 1/8 round of the Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo has also followed his biggest opponent.
The Portuguese superstar is still the number 1 factor of the Red Devils when he has scored 18 goals in 27 matches in all competitions. Before the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Atletico Madrid, he exploded with a hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur.
Many people expect Ronaldo’s fate before Atletico will help MU win tickets to the quarterfinals. However, like the first leg, CR7 was completely blocked and could not have a single shot in the whole match.
This is the 3rd time in the history of participating in the Champions League, CR7 cannot shoot in 90 minutes.
The previous two times were in the match MU vs Panathinaikos in November 2003 and Real Madrid vs Barcelona in May 2011. In addition, this is also the first time in 16 years, Ronaldo finished the season without a trophy.
At the age of 37, Ronaldo hardly has the opportunity to show his talent in Europe’s No. 1 club tournament. Perhaps, choosing to join Man United this past summer was a wrong decision for both CR7 and the Red Devils.
The end of the SiRo era
CR7 did not participate in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the third year in a row. The last time was the 2018/19 season. At that time, Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Atletico, helping Juventus to win 3-2 despite losing 0-2 from the first leg.
A year later, Juventus lost to Lyon because of the away goals rule, although Ronaldo scored twice in the second leg.
Last season, Juventus continued to be eliminated by FC Porto despite drawing 4-4, and Ronaldo did not score in both matches.
Messi is also in the same situation as Ronaldo. For the second year in a row, the Argentinian failed to help his team enter the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Last season, Messi’s Barca lost to PSG 2-5, in which the owner of seven FIFA Ballon d’Or missed penalties in the second leg.
This year, Messi moved to PSG and played with many superstars, but the results did not improve.
Did Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo make the Champions League quarter-finals?
2004 ✖️
2005 ✖️
2006 🐐
2007 🐐🐐
2008 🐐 🐐
2009 🐐🐐
2010 🐐
2011 🐐🐐
2012 🐐🐐
2013 🐐🐐
2014 🐐🐐
2015 🐐🐐
2016 🐐🐐
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2018 🐐🐐
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2021 ✖️
2022 ✖️The end? #UCL pic.twitter.com/rUtnHF5k96
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 15, 2022
Ronaldo and Messi’s period of dominating world football is over
Messi finished this season’s Champions League with five goals, one less than Ronaldo. In the 15 seasons before the 2019/20 season, the Champions League has never without Ronaldo and Messi in the quarterfinals. But in the last 2 seasons, both of these superstars were soon eliminated.
The last time Messi won the Champions League was the 2014/15 season.
Ronaldo was the last champion in the 2017/18 season, the season he won the top scorer with 15 goals.
After MU’s loss to Atletico, Twitter of the statistics site Squawka asked: “Is the Messi – Ronaldo era officially over?”.
Perhaps the answer is clear.
Ballon d’Or rule changes and back-to-back Champions League last 16 exits…
Is the Messi-Ronaldo era officially over? 😳
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 15, 2022
