For 15 years Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated European football. Usurping Ronaldino and Kaka as the planet’s finest, between them they have won all but one Ballon d’Or since 2008. Yet 2022 looks set to be the year the legendary duo’s juggernaut ends.
By their standards, the pair are enduring disappointing seasons at Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United respectively. The Argentine has scored just seven goals for the Ligue 1 giants, with only two coming in domestic league action. The Portuguese has fared better, netting 18 times, but already knows he will end the season trophyless at Old Trafford.
Last season, on the books of Barcelona and Juventus, they both suffered premature European exits to ensure that neither would compete in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2005. With PSG and Manchester United suffering round-of-16 exits themselves this month, they are both missing from the final eight again this year.
