Cristiano Ronaldo could benefit from Messi’s injury: Advantage gained from his absence in the Argentina National Team
The ongoing competition between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the title of all-time leading scorer in soccer continues, albeit with a significant development. Messi’s recent adductor injury will prevent him from playing for Argentina in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. This absence leaves the door open for Ronaldo to further extend his lead, particularly as Portugal will be competing in the UEFA Nations League.
Messi’s injury, sustained during Inter Miami‘s MLS match in Atlanta, is a significant blow to Argentina. The two upcoming matches are crucial for their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo and Portugal will face Denmark in the UEFA Nations League, with the first leg on March 20th. This presents Ronaldo with the opportunity to add to his goal tally and potentially increase the gap between himself and Messi in the all-time goal-scoring race.
Comparing Messi and Ronaldo’s goal-scoring records
As of today, Lionel Messi has scored 854 official goals. This includes his spectacular goal against Atlanta United. This puts him 74 goals behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently holds the record at 928 goals. Ronaldo’s impressive tally reflects his success at both the club and international levels. This includes his extensive goal-scoring records for clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact on the Portuguese national team has been nothing short of transformative. At 40, he has scored an astounding 135 goals in 217 appearances for Portugal, making him the all-time leading international scorer. Portugal, managed by Roberto Martínez, is aiming to win its second UEFA Nations League title and add to its collection of international trophies, including the Euro 2016 victory.
Portugal will face Denmark in the UEFA Nations League, with the first leg in Denmark on March 20th and the return leg in Lisbon on March 23rd. The Final Four will take place in June. Portugal is seeking to reach the Final Four and potentially win the title. Ronaldo aims to capitalize on the opportunity to add more goals to his tally, further extending the gap between himself and Messi.
Winning the Nations League would also add another significant trophy to his impressive collection and would likely be seen as a major achievement for Ronaldo. Winning another trophy would add to his already exceptional record and provide yet another milestone in his exceptional career.