The 2022 World Cup is likely to be the last for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The legendary players have not yet taken the trophy with their teams. Messi was closer to the trophy, with the national team of Argentina Lionel reached the final of the competition. Do you remember the first World Cup in the careers of Messi and Ronaldo? Probably not, because it was 15 years ago in 2006.

Lionel Messi’s first World Cup

In 2006, Lionel was only 18 years old and had managed to play just one full season for Barcelona. But for Jose Pekerman (Argentina’s coach at the time) it was enough to include the player in the application. Messi did not participate in the first match against Cote d’Ivoire, the coach left him on the bench. The player was able to make his debut in the next match against Serbia and Montenegro. In that match the Argentine came on the field with a replacement for only 20 minutes. But even that time was enough for him to give two assists and score his debut goal at the World Cups.

After exiting the group, the team defeated Mexico in the 1/8 stage, Messi appeared on the field from the bench, but could not score a goal. Argentina’s national team was knocked out by the tournament’s hosts, Germany; the young Lionel did not take part in that match.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s first World Cup

Ronaldo made his World Cup debut at the age of 20 and at that time he was already a mature footballer. At that time he had played several seasons for Manchester United. The player was called up to the national team back in 2003, he played at Euro 2004, where the Portuguese team was one step away from winning the championship.

Cristiano scored his first goal at the World Cup in the second game against Iran. In the 1/8 stage, Portugal faced a tough Netherlands. That legendary match ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of the Portuguese, Ronaldo was unable to distinguish himself in that match, moreover, he was injured, but managed to recover for the next stage. In the semifinals, the team lost to France, and in the match for third place, the Portuguese lost to Germany.