The Ronaldo/Messi Era Is Slowly Coming To An End. Let's Just Appreciate Their Greatness

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.

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.

Image: PA

Image: PA

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.

Image: PA

Image: PA

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.

Let's just appreciate both Ronaldo and Messi while we can.

Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Messi, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_