Messi’s Argentina VS Ronaldo’s Portugal – when it’s between two giants of world football at the moment. Lionel Messi’s Argentina take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in an international friendly.
A blockbuster on the cards!
Yes of course – when it’s between two giants of world football at the moment.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina take on Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in an international friendly but tell that to the football lovies and fanatics around the world that are billing this one as yet another ‘El Clasico’.
A ball is not yet kicked but the war of words is on as Argentine manager Gerado Martino has fired some parting shorts on the reigning FIFA Ballon D’Or winner in his pre-match press conference on Monday. “You can’t take out of the decision-making process the fact I am Argentinian and my heart lies with Messi,” said Martino.
“I’m probably not the best person to be asked to judge the Ballon d’Or because I cannot separate sentiment from my decision – I’m not the most objective person. Whatever kind of season Messi might have had from a playing point of view, I would still vote for him.”
But rating the current form, Messi who was won the award four times, has yet to hit the heights. Barcelona’s shaky form and Messi’s shortage of goals has left the latter chasing the Portuguese striker. The way Ronaldo’s season has been going, it just be a matter of time when the name will be announced soon in Zurich. Till then the duo go head-to-head at the pitch in Old Trafford on Tuesday.
This will CR7’s second appearance at Old Trafford since his departure for Real Madrid in 2009, and will look to take the ‘home advantage’ against his fiercest as the pair face for the 20th time. Much of Real Madrid’s rise to power could be attributed to Cristiano Ronaldo’s hunger for goals with the Los Blancos clinching the UEFA Champions League last season.
But even as the pair has had their strongholds on the club front, their international duties have caught an invariable factor. At the World Cup in Brazil, Ronaldo and Portugal failed to get out of their group while Messi and Argentina were left red-faced in the finals to Germany. Since then, 2014-15 has seen Ronaldo score 25 goals for his country and club Real Madrid whereas Argentina and Barcelona favourite, Leo Messi has notched up 14.
The clash is nicely set up in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo’s alleged ‘attack’ Messi. The Real Madrid forward was accused of regularly referring to his Barcelona counterpart by the name, ‘motherf***’ in Guillem Balague’s book, MESSI, but the Portuguese has quashed this claims.
“News is circulating that I allegedly made offending remarks regarding Lionel Messi. This is absolutely false and I have assured my lawyer takes action to sue those responsible. I have the utmost respect for all my professional colleagues, and Messi is obviously no exception,” said the Real Madrid star on his Facebook page.
This surely bills up as one of the most exciting match on a Tuesday night (in India).
