They have dominated world football for years. 10 Ballon d'Or's, 10 Champions League's and 12 La Liga title's, to name just a few.
They have won everything there is to win in the game, consistently smashing record after record, season after season.
But after more than a decade at the top, some believe Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are finally showing signs of slowing down.
Cristiano Ronaldo is missing more games than he ever has done in his career. Lionel Messi is picking up more injuries than he ever has done in his career. Ladies and gentlemen, it is slowly coming to an end. Stop the bickering, stop the debates. Just enjoy these final years... pic.twitter.com/2Qsxpb9llD
- UtdArena. (@utdarena) September 24, 2019
In last night's La Liga tie against Villarreal at the Nou Camp, Barcelona's main man suffered a fresh injury scare on his first start of the 2019/20 season, picking up a small problem in the adductor.
The 32-year-old missed the club's opening four games of the season because of a foot injury sustained while playing for Argentina in this summer's Copa America.
And Messi himself revealed this week that he is a long way from his best, admitting to being "tired" and "sluggish" after returning from his summer break. "I didn't have that spark. I was lacking a bit of rhythm." he said via ESPN.
Meanwhile his great rival was absent from Juventus' latest Serie A game against Brescia on Tuesday after damaging his adductor in mid-week.
He also missed the annual FIFA best awards ceremony after nursing the minor injury.
"Cristiano has a little fatigue to the adductors. I don't want to take any risk." Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri said ahead of the tie.
For his incredibly high standards, Ronaldo has made a relatively slow start to his second season in Italy, scoring against Napoli and Hellas Verona in five games played.
The latest injury setbacks for both men have since caused many on social media to claim there dominance "is slowly coming to and end."
"Cristiano Ronaldo is missing more games than he ever has done in his career." said one Twitter user.
"Lionel Messi is picking up more injuries than he ever has done in his career. Ladies and gentlemen, it is slowly coming to an end. Stop the bickering, stop the debates. Just enjoy these final years."
Are we witnessing two of the all-time greats slowing down in their dominant spell at the top? Or is this just a slight blip?
It feels like many people have already made their minds up, although both players will tell you differently.
- Ronaldo didn't play today's match due to an injury
- Messi coming back from injury, starting his first match subbed off at half time due to an injury threat.
Our Childhood Heros are not the same. The beginning of the End. Hurts like hell :broken_heart::sob:#Messi #Ronaldo
- Ahmad. (@AhmadRspeaks) September 24, 2019
Ronaldo is missing more games than he ever has done in his career , Messi is picking more injuries than he has ever done in his career
We are in the End game now :broken_heart::broken_heart: pic.twitter.com/eFvTbiRQOb
- Jan Sher Khan Sheikh (@ItsJanSherKhan) September 25, 2019
Seeing both Messi and Ronaldo potentially out of action due to injury/precaution is actually heartbreaking. Appreciate their greatness it's becoming the end of a great era in football
- JoeeeSZN (@JoeeeSZN) September 25, 2019
As a die hard Ronaldo fan man seeing Messi age and be more injury prone hurts. They are such world class footballers that I never thought it would end. But everything has a final chapter. I guess it's started :sob::disappointed::disappointed: https://t.co/qP2xx0Fgnp
- B (@hypexx10) September 25, 2019
Ronaldo missing games due to injury
Messi picking up more injuries.
Both men are in their 30s it's nearly over lads.
- Dylan (@DylanPFox0) September 24, 2019
Let's just appreciate both Ronaldo and Messi while we can.
Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Messi, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo
- Lionel Messi scores just three minutes into friendly against Cristiano Ronaldo
- Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo Documentary Titled 'The End Is Near' Is A Must Watch
- Riyadh XI player calls Ronaldo the GOAT at full-time, then 20 minutes later called Messi the GOAT
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi send each other messages after potentially playing last ever match together
.png)
.png)
