Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's return to international duty.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are known to be the best footballers and who among them is the best has been a decade long debate. The two who had taken self-imposed international exiles returned back to their respective countries on Friday (22 March).
However, their return did not make much of a difference. Messi and Ronaldo had both crashed out of the 2018 World Cup on the same day back in June, and have missed six matches for their countries since then.
As fate would have it, their comebacks also coincided, although their returns brought little success as Argentina went on to lose 3-1 against Venezuela and Portugal drew a blank against Ukraine.
Argentina 1 – 3 Venezuela
For the friendly match in Madrid, Messi returned as skipper for his side. However, the FC Barcelona player was left stunned as Salomon Rondon fired Venezuela into a sixth-minute lead.
The 31-year-old did show flashes of his ability and his cross to set up a Lautaro Martinez header from close range.
However, it was not Messi’s night as Venezuela put three past their more illustrious rivals for the first time with goals from Salomon Rondon, Jhon Murillo and Josef Martinez.
Messi finished the match but felt some pain in his groin and will sit out Tuesday's friendly against Morocco in Tangier, the Argentine Football Association said after the game.
The injury, described as a flare-up of an existing problem, was not thought to be serious. Midfielder Gonzalo Martinez will also miss the Morocco match with a thigh strain.
Portugal 0 – 0 Ukraine
While Argentina played a friendly, Portugal began their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. However, the defending champions did not have off to an underwhelming start against Ukraine, despite the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo left out of the Nations Cup matches in the autumn by mutual consent with coach Fernando Santos and then sprang back into action.
The Juventus star did take seven shots on goal and landing three on target, but was denied twice in quick succession by Andriy Pyatov in the first half.
Portugal had an early goal chalked off when William Carvalho's header was ruled offside and defender Pepe then produced an impressive volley which the 34-year-old Pyatov did well to turn over.
Pyatov kept Portugal at bay with several fine saves in the first hour before the hosts ran out of ideas in the Group B game. Portugal host Serbia in their second match of the campaign on Monday.
){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}