Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami) and Cristiano Ronaldo (40, Al Nassr) both faced elimination. The simultaneous downfall of the football legends who once dominated the world is seen as a symbolic moment.
Messi lost 1-3 to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the North American and Caribbean Football Confederation (CONCACAF) Champions Cup semifinals at home on the 1st (Korea time).
As a result, Inter Miami, which lost the first leg 0-2, was eliminated with an aggregate score of 1-5 across both legs. Miami initially sparked hope with a goal from Jordi Alba in the 9th minute of the first half. However, they collapsed, conceding three goals in the second half.
Earlier, Ronaldo appeared in the semifinal of the 2024-2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite (ACLE) against Kawasaki Frontale (Japan) at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but could not prevent a 2-3 defeat.
As a result, the possibility of Ronaldo finishing the season without a title is increasing, following last year. Ronaldo's Al Nassr was eliminated in the quarterfinals last year. His former team, Al Ain, drew 4-4 on aggregate across both legs, but lost in the penalty shootout.
Ronaldo's chances of finishing the season without a title have also increased this season. Al Nassr is sitting in third place in the Saudi League, trailing first-place Al Ittihad by 8 points (68 points). Both legends, Messi and Ronaldo, have also failed to find the back of the net.
In contrast, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), born in 2007, shone brightly. Yamal scored in the first leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League (UCL) semifinals against Inter Milan, showcasing his presence in the 3-3 draw.
Simone Inzaghi (52), the Inter coach, praised Yamal (18), saying, "I haven't seen a player like Yamal in the last 8-9 years," and described him as "a talent that comes along once every 50 years."
Rio Ferdinand, a legend of Manchester United and the England national team, said through TNT Sports' broadcast, "This kid is playing like a joke. He is playing so freely on the biggest stage it’s almost rude," and added that "Barcelona entrusted the ball to the youngest player on the team every time they had the opportunity."
Jamie Carragher, a Liverpool legend who appeared on CBS Sports, also remarked, "He really looked like Messi. It was as if we were watching Messi in his prime," noting that "everything came to a halt, and it felt like we were just watching what he would do next."
French legend Thierry Henry also expressed amazement, saying, "Always, I wonder who can surpass Messi and Ronaldo. In my time, there were players like Pele, Maradona, Zidane, and Ronaldo. Every time another one shows up. That’s Yamal. What he is showing now is at an abnormal level."
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