At a glance

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. For the past decade, they have been inseparable in any discussion of the world’s best footballers, but neither of them had won the World Cup.

Now it appears they never will, after Argentina (and Messi) and Portugal (and Ronaldo) were eliminated from the 2018 event in Russia yesterday, by France and Uruguay respectively.

Messi will be 35 when the next World Cup arrives at the end of 2022, shifted from its usual mid-year slot due to the heat expected in Qatar, while Ronaldo will be 37.

Even if one or both of them return – and that shouldn’t be ruled out until they say they’re done with the international game – they will no longer be the focal point in their teams.

When you consider that they have, for the most part, not had the supporting cast needed to win the World Cup so far in their careers, it’s unlikely that will suddenly change as they shift to the periphery.

Debate has raged during their careers as to who is better.

Round of 16:

❚ France 4 (Antoine Griezmann, Benjamin Pavard, Kylian Mbappe 2) Argentina 3 (Angel Di Maria, Gabriel Mercado, Sergio Aguero). HT 1-1.

❚ Uruguay 2 (Edison Cavani 2) Portugal 1 (Pepe). HT 1-0. Tomorrow’s games:

❚ 2am: Brazil v Mexico

❚ 6am: Belgium v Japan