Oct. 16, 2004: the worst day of Cristiano Ronaldo’s life.
Over 30,000 fans filled the Montjuic for the Catalan derby between Espanyol and Barcelona. Four of Barca’s first-team members missed the match due to injury, forcing then-manager Frank Rijkaard to call up reserve players for the match.
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Lionel Messi was one of them.
Shirt tucked, his hair flowing and an awkward No. 30 on the back of his shirt, little did we know this would be the moment that forever changed football’s landscape.
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Fast forward 11 years. Ronaldo is still trying to keep up.
Admittedly, Messi did benefit from playing alongside the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi. It’s no coincidence he’s failed to live up to his club name with Argentina, still chasing his first senior international trophy.
Ronaldo is even benefiting from better form -- not to mention health -- in 2015.
But there’s no denying the courses of their careers changed that faithful day in 2004.
In any other generation, Ronaldo is the unquestioned greatest player of his time. The fact that it’s even a question now is proof of Messi’s legendary status.
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