All eyes on Messi and Ronaldo as 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar
Messi seeking to break the competition’s appearance record, Ronaldo out to become first player to score at five World Cups
Argentina captain, Lionel Messi and his Portugal counterpart, Cristiano Ronaldo will be the cynosure of all eyes when the FIFA World Cup kicks off Sunday in Qatar.
Both playing probably their last World Cup will be seeking to end on record breaking notes and of course settle the greatest of all time debate if one of the two lifts the World Cup as champions on December 18.
With their total dominance of the beautiful game in the last decade, both have not lifted the World Cup trophy in their illsutrious and very storied careers.
At Qatar 2022, both Messi and Ronaldo will be joining an elite group of players who have competed in five World Cups. Ronaldo (06-22), Messi (06-22).
If Argentina advances further in the competition, Messi will become the only player with the most appearances in the event, having featured in 19 matches throughout all editions, while Lothar Matthaus holds the record with 25.
Messi has guided Argentina to 12 World Cup victories as a captain, and if he leads La Albiceleste to progress to the quarter-finals this year, he will beat the record of Rafael Marquez, who now holds the record for most wins as a captain in the event.
For Ronaldo, the aim, apart from winning the title for the first time, will also be to break the goalscoring record of Portuguese legend Eusebio at the World Cup.
Eusebio led Portugal to the semi-final of the 1966 tournament – scoring nine goals to win the Golden Boot.
Ronaldo needs three more goals to become Portugal’s highest scorer at the World Cup finals – after hitting the net seven times in 17 games spread across four tournaments.
Ronaldo became the oldest player to score a hat-trick when he bagged a treble in the draw with Spain in Russia in 2018.
