Oct. 16, 2004: the worst day of Cristiano Ronaldo’s life.
Over 30,000 fans filled the Montjuic for the Catalan derby between Espanyol and Barcelona. Four of Barca’s first-team members missed the match due to injury, forcing then-manager Frank Rijkaard to call up reserve players for the match.
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Lionel Messi was one of them.
Shirt tucked, his hair flowing and an awkward No. 30 on the back of his shirt, little did we know this would be the moment that forever changed football’s landscape.
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11 years ago today, Messi made his Barcelona debut! https://t.co/K5jm1JIdiq https://t.co/RWB13NR5x6
— World Soccer Shop (@worldsoccershop) October 16, 2015
Fast forward 11 years. Ronaldo is still trying to keep up.
#messi11 LIGA UCL COPA Supercup Supercopa FIFA Club World Cup
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 16, 2015
Admittedly, Messi did benefit from playing alongside the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi. It’s no coincidence he’s failed to live up to his club name with Argentina, still chasing his first senior international trophy.
Ronaldo is even benefiting from better form -- not to mention health -- in 2015.
ESPN's projection model predicts Ronaldo will rediscover his scoring touch this weekend: https://t.co/67HCWALZ2l pic.twitter.com/X0XGH9Ufk8
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 16, 2015
But there’s no denying the courses of their careers changed that faithful day in 2004.
In any other generation, Ronaldo is the unquestioned greatest player of his time. The fact that it’s even a question now is proof of Messi’s legendary status.
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