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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, soccer's most influential players, are notably silent on the European Super League disaster

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, world soccer's two most influential players, have been noticeably silent on the proposed European Super League.

The controversial breakaway competition is already on the verge of collapsing, just two days after 12 of Europe's biggest clubs announced they had agreed to take part.

Nine of the original dozen teams – AC Milan, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham – have now withdrawn.

Only FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid are yet to drop out.

The quickfire withdrawals came on the back of fierce backlash from fans, the media, and players over the tournament, which was being financed by Wall Street bank JPMorgan.

Numerous players involved in the tournament have spoken out, with Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, and Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling from Manchester City all posting anti-Super League statements on social media.

Liverpool FC's players also put out a statement on their social media accounts saying: "We don't like it and we don't want it to happen."

Messi and Ronaldo, however, have yet to publicly comment on the plans.

Messi has posted on his Instagram since the plans for the ESL were announced, sharing an advertisement for a new pair of boots from Adidas, his sponsor, on Tuesday.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, has not posted on social media since tweeting a photograph of himself in his underwear surrounded by Juventus teammates on Monday.

The pair are in a somewhat unique position in that they play for two of the three clubs who have as yet not pulled out of the Super League.

Messi's Barcelona have thus far remained silent on the league's collapse, but Ronaldo's Juventus has said it is still keen for the competition to go ahead.

"Relating to the proposed creation of the Super League, and the ensuing public debate, the issuer clarifies to be aware of the request and intentions otherwise expressed by certain clubs to withdraw from this project, although the necessary procedures envisaged by the agreement among the clubs have not been completed," said a club statement posted on Wednesday.

"In this context, while Juventus remains convinced of the soundness of the project's sport, commercial and legal premises, it believes that at present there are limited chances that the project be completed in the form originally conceived.

"Juventus remains committed to pursuing the creation of long-term value for the Company and the entire football industry."

The Italian club's chairman, Andrea Agnelli, who was also also one of the key architects of the ESL, has conceded that the competition is probably doomed with nine of the 12 founders having already dropped out. 

"Admittedly no, I don't think that project is now still up and running," he said.

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