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With the 2024 Paris Olympics underway, we look at Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's legacies at one of the world's most prestigious sporting events.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated the football world for nearly 15 years, accumulating numerous accolades and shattering records.
While both stars have excelled on the international stage, their Olympic experiences differ significantly.
In this piece we'll delve into their Olympic journeys, highlighting their performances, achievements, and the impact on their careers.
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15:25 - 23.07.2024
Olympics: How Messi ignored Barcelona and triumphed over Nigeria in Beijing 2008
We recall how Barcelona almost stopped Lionel Messi from making the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Ronaldo vs Messi at the Olympics
Ronaldo's sole Olympic appearance came in 2004 when he represented Portugal at the Athens Games. Despite his efforts, including a goal in their 2-1 win against Morocco, Portugal finished last in their group, failing to advance to the knockout stage.
This early exit was a disappointment for the young Ronaldo, who was just 19 years old at the time.
In contrast, Messi's Olympic experience was a resounding success. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he led Argentina to gold, scoring crucial goals throughout the tournament, and setting up Angel Di Maria to score the winner against Nigeria in the final.
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This triumph marked Messi's first major international success, and the general belief at the time was that he would go on to win even more.
This failed to materialise as the 8-time Ballon d'Or winner endured a 13-year drought before his next triumph with Argentina, which came at the 2021 Copa America.
He followed that up with two more trophies, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and a successful defence of the Copa title last month in the United States.
Messi's perseverance and dedication ultimately paid off, cementing his status as the greatest of ll time.
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