Sparkle to fizzle? Why Messi, Ronaldo early UCL exits tell alot

They have reigned in the football world, grabbed the headlines and won all the most coveted accolades with exception of the world cup in a span of slightly over 10 years. But now, Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi are facing a potential blip in their careers judging from the early historic exits in the elite Uefa Champions League.

Someone would rightly argue that clinching a win with an 11-side football team is solely a general effort. But the two football stars hit the ceiling, influencing games to the extent of masking their teammates. And when heavy defeats drop on their doorsteps, all the media outlets focus on the two who carry the weighty shame of their teams.

Messi, suffered taunts last season after heavy defeat in the hands of Bayern Munich which ended in cumulative 8-2 hammering. The season before that, he netted a spectacular free kick against Liverpool in the semi-final of the tournament only to suffer a jaw-dropping 4-0 drabbing in the hands of the English giants in the second leg.

Messi is yet to win another UCL crown after he last lifted it under the tutelage of Luis Enrique and with a well-oiled team, with Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr in the attack; and Andres Iniesta, Xavi and the likes of Ivan Rakitic pulling the strings in the midfield. That he will win it again is subject to fate and luck owing to the torrid football moments in Camp Nou.

Ronaldo on the other hand has been revered as the spark of UCL comebacks. He is that king who ‘may sleep’ in the first leg and roar in any corner of Europe in the second leg to steer his team to qualification.

A few years ago, Ronaldo would flash out his trade mark celebrations with his arms spread apart at the corner flag after pumping a brace or a hat trick against an opponent. But these days seem to have fizzled out.

Spark fails

His new team, Juventus exited the UCL round of 16 in a painful but dramatic fashion against Portuguese giants Porto.

Juventus left Estadio do Dragao last month red-faced after a 2-1 loss to Porto. Federico Chiesa struck the only goal which failed to two goals scored by Mehdi Taremi and Moussa Marega in both halves.

It was the expectation of many soccer fans; especially avid supporters Cristiano Ronaldo that he would turn up in Turin come March 9 to swing the tide. But it was not going to be his day.

Chiesa stepped up with a double in Turin and French midfielder Adrien Rabiot also scored in the extra time. But the three goals proved inconsequential after Sergio Oliviera scored two goals to make 4-4 aggregate and enable the visitors to proceed on goal difference.

Lionel Messi suffered a similar fate in round of 16 match at Parc des Princes in Paris against PSG.

Little was expected but no one could have ruled out a possible Messi magic. The Spanish giants were put to the sword after Kylian Mbappe smashed a hat trick and Moise Kean also scored to make it 4-1.

Messi had earned the hosts an early lead with a penalty kick in that match.

But at Paris, he failed to convert another penalty after Keylor Navas read his feet very well. The Argentine had struck a spectacular finish into the top corner from 30 yards to cancel Kylian Mbappe’s opener.

With Barcelona failing to overturn the score sheet despite racking 16 shots on target, it was all clear the Messi was headed for another early exit in the tournament. The match ended 1-1 but 5-2 in aggregate.

It became the first time ever since 2004/05 season that the tournament will not have Messi or Ronaldo in the quarter-finals.

“We are out, which is what counts in this sport, but we leave with good sensations,’’ Skysports reports Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman addressing the media.

“Leo can’t have any doubts about what the future holds for this team,” he added, while stalking about Messi’s future.

In other matches, Liverpool dumped out RB Leipzig on 4-0 aggregate while Borussia Dortmund also eliminated Sevilla on 5-4 aggregate thanks to exemplary performances of youngster Erling Haaland.