Portugal's journey stopped in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024. They lost the Euro 2024 quarter-final against France 3-5 in the shootout after a scoreless draw after 120 minutes of bloodshed. This is Ronaldo's last Euro tournament at 39. Even after the round of 16, he confirmed "Without a doubt that this Euro 2024 will be my last Euro tournament".
Ronaldo has participated in the Euro tournament six times, becoming the highest number of participants ever. Although he failed to score in this tournament, he made 30 appearances at the Euros, scoring 14 goals and eight assists. His name was also listed in the most points and help ever. However, it was a regrettable finale.
Chris Sutton of the 'BBC' directed his arrow at Roberto Martinez, who led Portugal. He pointed out that "the coach is obsessed with Ronaldo, and by continuing to use him, he has revealed the limit of "lack of imagination"."
Although it has faded since the 2022 Qatar World Cup, 37-year-old Lionel Messi is always compared to Ronaldo in the 'Greatest Of All Times' debate.
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Messi once again proved that he is different from Ronaldo. Messi led his team to a 2-0 victory on the 10th (Korea time) by scoring a decisive goal in the 2024 Copa America semifinals against Canada at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Defending champion Argentina advanced to the final and is one step closer to winning two consecutive tournaments. Messi is trying to win his third consecutive major tournament following the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Argentina, along with Uruguay, is tied for first place in the Copa America with 15 wins in history. If you win this competition, you will have the most wins 'single'.
This competition is Messi's 'Last Dance'. Argentina won 2-0 against Canada in the first round of the group stage. When the lid of the semifinal was opened, Canada raced hard for revenge. Jacob Schaeffelberg, who scored in the quarterfinals against Venezuela, threatened Argentina by hitting shots in the 5th and 7th minutes of the first half.
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But it wasn't a match. Argentina changed the mood with Messi's shot in the 12th minute of the first half, and scored the first goal in the 22nd minute of the first half. Julián Álvarez caught Rodrigo de Paul's pass with an exquisite first touch and then scored with a right-footed shot in front of the penalty area.
Messi shot twice at the end of the first half, but rarely opened the goal. Messi's long-awaited goal was scored in the sixth minute of the second half. Messi slightly changed the direction of Enzo Fernandez's shot from the front of the goal area to his left foot and shook the net.
It was Messi's first celebration in this tournament. Messi's only point of attack was the first assist in the first group match against Canada before the match. There was a long silence due to the injury. In the quarterfinals against Ecuador, he missed out as the No. 1 kicker of the penalty shootout.
I turned the flow back at once. Messi has increased his record of scoring goals in consecutive Copa games since the 2007 tournament to six. In addition, he scored 14 goals in total in Copa, chasing the record of most goals scored by Nolbertu Mendes and Gizinho (17 goals or more) by three goals.
Argentina will face the winner of the Colombia-Uruguay match in the final on the 15th. If Argentina wins its second consecutive title, it will enjoy its first joy in 21 years since 1991-1993.
Meanwhile, Canadian coach Jesse March made it to the semifinals in his first tournament. He was the first only post-Klins selected by the Korea Football Association's Power Enhancement Committee. However, there were differences during the negotiations, and March eventually took the helm of Canada.
