Desert Fest: Two legends on collision course
Neymar departed in tears. The Brazil No 10 cried inconsolably, only to be lifted off the pitch as the pre-tournament favourites were knocked out on penalties by Croatia in the quarterfinals at the Education City Stadium on Friday night.
The next day, it was the turn for Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers of all time, to bid farewell to the grandest stage following a 1-0 defeat against Morocco at the Al Thumama Stadium. Ronaldo's departure was a bit more dramatic and as painful, as it was certainly the last time the Portuguese legend played at the World Cup.
It is heartbreaking for millions of fans across the globe to see their idols go down like, but that is the cutthroat nature of the World Cup. And one more such painful exit awaits tonight as Lionel Messi's Argentina take on Luka Modric's Croatia.
So brace for more drama and heartache as the semifinal kicks off at the Lusail Iconic stadium. It will be a shame as these two legends gave so much to the world of football, having forged their careers against so much adversity.
Despite playing in different positions and having their own unique set of skills, both players have long carried the expectations of their nations. They may have grown up in vastly different atmospheres and cultures, but both were up against enormous challenges: Messi battling against a growth hormone deficiency and Modric escaping a bloody civil war.
Both child prodigies, they soon caught the eyes of football scouts and it did not take long for either to rise through the ranks before making their debuts at the Germany World Cup in 2006.
Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner, has achieved all at club football and also guided his country to a first-ever Copa America title in 28 years. The 35-year-oldhas appeared in all World Cups since 2006 and has overtaken Diego Maradona's record of World Cup goals. He has also recently broken his duck of scoring in World Cup knockout games. With all those trophies in the bag and all those feats, there is just one trophy missing from his cabinet; the one that matters most, the glaring absence of which could define the legacy of one of the greats of all time. It is win or bust for Messi tonight.
Like Messi, Modric, too, has won everything at club level and an era-defining Ballon d'Or. The 37-year-old missed out on the 2010 World Cup as Croatia failed to qualify but as his stature as a midfield marshal grew, Croatia only got stronger. The Real Madrid midfielder pulls the strings in the midfield and orchestrates the attacks of a resilient Croatia side, his own resilience and doggedness reflected on the whole squad. Like Messi, Modric too suffered the heartbreak of losing a World Cup final.
With another World Cup final at stake, certainly the last for either of them, the stage is all set for an all-time classic, not just between two great footballing nations but also between two all-time legends. We'll have to wait for just a few more hours to find out who ends in tears like Ronaldo or Neymar and who fights to live another day.