NEW DELHI: The debate goes on. Who is the best footballer of this generation. Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? While there be no definitive answer to this question, at least the first round of the FIFA World Cup 2018 has belonged to the Portugese.
As Portugal opened their World Cup campaign against Spain, it was Ronaldo’s hat-trick that allowed Portugal to salvage a draw in the Iberian rivaly. Messi, however, endured a pretty ordinary outing during the Group D opener between Argentina and Iceland. Not only did the Argentine miss all his 10 attempts at goal, a missed penalty was a prime example of Messi not being in his elements, at least for the time being.
It was his sixth international hat-trick, and his 51st for club and country
– He joined Brazil’s Pele, West Germany’s Uwe Seeler, and Germany’s Miroslav Klose in the select list of players who have scored goals in four World Cups
– Ronaldo, 33, is now the oldest hat-trick scorer in a World Cup game. The previous oldest was Rob Rensenbrink of the Netherlands. He was 30 when he achieved the feat against Iran in 1978.