World Cup Daily Winners and Losers: Messi Shines, Ronaldo Struggles

Winner: Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi added another memorable performance to his illustrious career at the World Cup. In a match against Austria, he scored twice, bringing his total to 18 goals, which is now the highest in World Cup history for both men and women.

Loser: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo faced a challenging start with Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo. His performance sparked criticism as he failed to create significant opportunities. In contrast, Messi already has five goals, while Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have four each. Other top players like Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah are also scoring.

Portugal is in a tight spot and requires a win against Uzbekistan. Ronaldo, 41, needs to deliver a standout performance as this is likely his final World Cup. With a crucial match against Colombia coming up, Ronaldo’s next performance is critical for the team’s prospects.

Winner: Norway

Norway, led by Haaland, celebrated reaching the Round of 32. The joyous occasion saw the team celebrate with a largely supportive Norwegian crowd in New Jersey.

Loser: Hydration Break

For the first time this World Cup, a scheduled hydration break was bypassed. A two-hour delay during the France vs. Iraq match due to lightning storms resulted in the abandonment of the hydration pause. The teams coped with the change as they continued after the heavy rain.