The globe’s two finest footballers came in to the tournament on the back of contrasting club campaigns but it is the man who enjoyed double success that has faltered at the World Cup.

Despite scoring thirty-one goals in thirty league games for a star-studded Real Madrid side, Cristiano Ronaldo has been unable to replicate the form which, along with potential new club-mate Luis Suárez, made him Europe’s most prolific forward this season.

Arriving in Brazil with what expert Dr. Jose Carlos Noronha described as a potentially career threatening knee injury, Ronaldo’s time on South American shores may be best summed up by an atrocious free-kick attempt in the 4-0 opening loss to Germany.

Known for his lethality on set-pieces, the Portugal captain’s effort failed to beat the one man wall that Manuel Neuer set before him and was juxtaposed by Lionel Messi’s superb strike against Nigeria.

Whilst Ronaldo may have nigh-on singlehandedly dragged A Selecção to the World Cup in their play-off ties against Sweden, the winger-come-striker netted just once in Group G, branded by some as the fated ‘Group of Death’.

His strike in yesterday’s win over Ghana proved inconsequential as the earlier defeat in Salvador and a draw with the USA consigned Portugal to third place in the pool and an early return to Lisbon for Paulo Bento’s men.

Although they are not the side of old, Portugal are still blessed with a crop of players that had the potential to do much better at just their sixth finals appearance, though injury and suspension conspired to tear apart the defensive base that is always crucial in success.

Like Wayne Rooney for England, Ronaldo has been his country’s leading hope for the last few years and may have seen this as his last big chance on the global stage.

By the time of the next tournament in Russia, the megastar will be thirty-three, and while his technique will not diminish, his fitness may be a limiting factor, particularly if he has worsened the aforementioned knee problem.

Ronaldo has split opinions ever since emerged at Sporting Lisbon, and was hated by many in England following his 2006 tournament antics, though he is one of the few true superstars to come out of the World Cup having not displayed his prowess.

On the other hand, fellow La Liga giant and perennial Ballon d’Or rival Messi has stepped up when Argentina needed him most, netting crucial goals against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria.

The Atomic Flea fired La Albiceleste to the summit of Group F, helping to set up a round of sixteen tie against Switzerland, and will hope to replicate his feats in oncoming matches.

Invigorated by the responsibility of the captaincy, bestowed on him by Alejandro Sabella, Messi is not the only world-class name on the team-sheet but will be key if Argentina are to reclaim the crown they last won in 1986 when Diego Maradona led the side.

By comparison Ronaldo will be left to wonder what might have been, now unable to add to the Copa del Rey and Champions League triumphs of 2014.

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