The dream of witnessing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo face off in the World Cup is now unlikely to happen.
Portugal’s scoreless draw against Colombia on Saturday night dropped them to second place in Group K, placing them on the opposite side of the knockout bracket from Argentina. Had Portugal topped the group, a quarterfinal clash with Argentina on July 11 would have been in sight.
Currently, the only scenario for a Messi-Ronaldo meeting in the World Cup is if both teams advance to the final. However, Portugal’s performance so far raises doubts about their ability to reach that stage. They stumbled to a 0-0 draw against DR Congo in their opening match, followed by a 4-0 victory over Uzbekistan, a team that lost all three of its group games with a -9 goal differential.
Colombia and DR Congo are both respectable teams, yet neither poses a significant threat as World Cup favorites. If Portugal cannot secure victories against these opponents, it raises serious questions about their status as contenders.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice against Uzbekistan but was largely ineffective in the recent draws. He managed only three shots against Colombia, with his best chance wasted when he slipped past the defense but missed the target. Additionally, he was offside during that play.
The notion that Portugal might perform better without Ronaldo persists, yet the team’s recent lack of dynamism is concerning. Despite boasting a talented midfield, including Bernardo Silva, who has not started the last two games, Portugal appears sluggish.
With their second-place finish, Portugal now faces Croatia in the Round of 32, rather than Ghana. While Croatia may not be the powerhouse it was in 2018 and 2022, they remain a crafty opponent capable of exploiting Portugal’s weaknesses.
Should Portugal advance past Croatia, they will likely encounter Euro 2024 champion Spain in the Round of 16. Had they won Group K, their opponent would have likely been Switzerland, paving the way for a potential quarterfinal showdown with Argentina.
The prospect of seeing Messi and Ronaldo on the pitch together has diminished significantly since Saturday morning.
Upcoming Round of 32 Matches to Watch
- Netherlands vs. Morocco (June 29): Morocco aims to replicate its defensive success from 2022 against a Netherlands side that has shown vulnerability.
- Brazil vs. Japan (June 29): Brazil’s potent attack, led by Vinícius Júnior, faces a resilient Japanese defense, making for an intriguing matchup.
- Ivory Coast vs. Norway (June 30): Norway’s strategy of resting key players could backfire against an Ivory Coast squad that has been defensively solid.
- United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (July 1): The U.S. must break down a defensive Bosnia side, presenting a new challenge.
- Portugal vs. Croatia (July 2): This could be a pivotal game for both Ronaldo and Croatia’s Luka Modric, as they may be nearing the end of their international careers.
- Argentina has a favorable route to the semifinals, facing Cape Verde in the Round of 32, followed by a potential match against Australia or Egypt.
Mexico encounters Ecuador, with a likely matchup against England looming in Mexico City. - France faces a challenging path, likely to meet Germany in the Round of 16 after Sweden.
- The U.S. may have to defeat multiple top-10 teams, including France and Spain, to advance to the final on July 19.
- – Yahoo Sports and FIFA
