Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo share unwanted record after Copa America and Euro 2024 group stages

Superstar footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo share an unwanted record after the group stages of the Copa America 2024 and EURO 2024 respectively. Despite their team's success, they will be disappointed with their individual performances in their respective tournaments.

Messi failed to score a goal in the group stage of a major international competition for the first time since Copa America 2011. On the other hand, it is the first time that Ronaldo has ever gone goalless in the group stage.

La Albiceleste started their campaign with a 2-0 win over tournament debutants Canada, with Messi assisting Lautaro Martinez in the 88th minute. In the 1-0 win against Chile, he was equally impressive, creating five chances, completing 32/34 passes (94%), 7/11 successful dribbles (64%) and 3/3 long balls (100%).

However, Martinez was the one who scored the winning goal. In the final game of the group stage against Peru, Martinez once again proved decisive, netting a brace to power Argentina to a 2-0 win. Coach Lionel Scaloni heavily rotated his side, which meant that Messi did not feature at all in the game, therefore ending his group stage outing without a goal.

On the other hand, Portugal kicked off their EURO campaign with a 2-1 win over Czechia courtesy of a last-gasp winner from Porto youngster Francisco Conceicao. Ronaldo had a decent outing, but had very few touches of the ball (32), missed a big chance and ended the game goalless.

In Portugal's subsequent 3-0 win over Turkiye, the Al-Nassr forward had scarcely any touches again (30), but managed to have more involvement in the game. He set up former Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes for the third, but could not get on the scoresheet himself.

In the final game, tournament first-timers Georgia stunned Portugal, defeating them 2-0. Ronaldo looked like a shadow of himself, having just 18 touches, completing just 8/12 passes (66%) and creating just one chance before being substituted in the 66th minute.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have an opportunity to make amends for their poor goalscoring form in the knockouts

While they could not bag a goal in the group stage, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's sides, Argentina and Portugal, have reached the knockout stages of their respective competitions.

Argentina topped Group A at Copa America 2024, scoring five goals and conceding none to end up on a perfect nine points out of nine. Despite a minor setback in the final group stage game against Georgia, Portugal also topped group F at EURO 2024 with six points, scoring five goals and conceding three.

Portugal have been drawn up against Slovenia in the Round of 16, while Argentina await the results of other games to find out their quarterfinal opponent.

Two of the most lethal forwards in the history of the sport, Messi and Ronaldo will be eager to put their goalscoring woes behind them in the knockouts. They will be hoping to get on the scoresheet and inspire their sides to victory.