By Husna Muhdhar,
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have reminded the world just how exceptional they can be on the pitch when they are back in the groove.
The Albicelestes hammered Estonia 5-0 in a friendly in Pamplona, Spain on Sunday night, with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner scoring all five goals.
Meanwhile, his counterpart and fellow GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) Cristiano Ronaldo, scored a brace to become all-time top scorer in the history of international football.
Better yet for Ronaldo, was that he scored the two goals in less than five minutes (35th and 39th) in Portugal’s 4-0 UEFA nations league victory over Switzerland.
Messi’s amazing performance in front of a rowdy crowd displayed the different lethal weapons in his vast arsenal: a solo goal after a mazy move, a predatory finish, a magnificent side-footed drive, and an accurate penalty, were among the five goals.
It is however ironic that La Pulga Atomic, as Messi is fondly referred to, has only found the back of the net six times in 26 Ligue 1 games for PSG this season.
On the other hand, his Manchester United counterpart scored18 goals in 33 appearances this season, despite his club’s lacklustre performance.
All in all, the two just seem to shine brighter together as none likes to be left in the other’s shadow.
The two also have a similar rivalry when it comes to hoe much they earn.
Messi topped Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list for 2022 with pre-tax gross earnings of $130 million per year,
The Paris Saint Germain forward earned more than Cristiano Ronaldo who came in at third, with Basketballer Lebron James, sandwiching the pair at second.
Messi made $130 million, while Lebron earned $121.2 million, only $9 million shy of the former Barcelona ace, while Ronaldo made $115 million.
Forbes list comprises four basketballers, three footballers, a tennis player, boxer and American football star.
