Messi failed to convert a penalty in goal against Iceland on Saturday.
FIFA World Cup 2018 may be about the best football teams in the world competing against each other. However, this is also about the competition between the best players in the world. There is no rivalry bigger than Crisitiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi right now.
Cristiano Ronaldo made a brilliant start to his World Cup as he scored a hat-trick in to earn Portugal a 3-3 draw against Spain on Friday.
On Saturday, all eyes were on Lionel Messi as he took the field against a determined Iceland side.
However, Messi not only failed to score a goal but also missed a penalty as Argentina were held to 1-1 draw in their opening match of the World Cup 2018.
Messi was presented with a chance to win the game from the spot in the 64th minute. But he put his effort too close to Hannes Halldorsson, who made an easy save.
Messi was given the ultimate opportunity after Hordur Bjorgvin Magnusson got entangled with Aguero in the box, only for Halldorsson to fly to his right and palm the penalty clear.
As soon as Messi missed the penalty many on social media started comparing Messi and Ronaldo again. Many users said that while Ronaldo came through for his team in a crucial match, Messi failed even to score. Some added that if Ronaldo was in such situation he would have surely scored (as he did for his third goal on Friday).
However, one amazing stat shows that it would not have been so easy for Ronaldo to score against Iceland.
Journalist Ryan O'Hanlon posted the figures on twitter mentioning how Ronaldo has also failed to score against Iceland when Portugal met them in 2016.
He tweeted, "In 2016, Iceland tied Portugal, 1-1. Ronaldo took 10 shots, no goals. In 2018, Iceland tied Argentina, 1-1. Messi took 11 shots, no goals. Iceland vs. Ronaldo and Messi: 21 shots conceded, no goals."
It seems Iceland are one of the few sides in world who have managed to silence the two best goal scorers in the world.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}