As the World Cup progresses and teams get eliminated, world-renowned athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could go through their career without getting the trophy they worked their entire lives for.

The final Chance for Messi or Ronaldo to win the most prized trophy in soccer, the World Cup, is here. The event kicked off November 20, 2022 in Qatar, where millions of fans have travelled to watch and support their respective countries, and will end December 18 after the final.

Both players throughout their careers have been regarded as the two greatest players to step on the pitch, but neither has won a World Cup. In 2014, the World Cup Final took place in Rio de Janeiro;  Argentina, Messi’s home country, lost in extra time to Germany in a heartbreaker. In 2006 Ronaldo, a forward on Portugal, lost in the semifinals of the World Cup to France. Fans and players all across the globe view these players as idols and superheroes.

Ronaldo was on Manchester United from 2003 – 2009, and returned in 2021. Between 2009 – 2021 he played for Real Madrid and Juventus. Ronaldo has won five Ballon D’or’s, an award given to the best player in the world each season, in his career.

In a November 18 interview with Piers Morgan, a British journalist, on Morgan’s YouTube channel, Ronaldo said, “Manchester right now to compare with that club, I think it’s behind in my opinion, which is something that surprised me. A club with this dimension should be the top of the tree in my opinion and they are not, unfortunately. They are not in that level. But I hope the next years they can reach to be in a top level.”

Following the interview, Manchester United terminated Ronaldo’s contract. Many speculate that he wanted to force his way out of the club, and used the interview as a tool. Currently, Ronaldo is a free agent searching for his next club following the World Cup.

Messi was a player on Barcelona from 2003-2021. After Barcelona he had financial issues. He could not stay and left for Paris Saint Germain, a top French club, and rejoined Neymar Jr., a Brazilian winger. Messi and Neymar both were on Barcelona from 2013-2017 and were an unstoppable duo. During his time at Barcelona Messi won the Ballon D’or 6 times.

Neymar da Silva Santos Junior is widely considered on of the best players of all time.

Although neither Messi or Ronaldo has won the World Cup, Ronaldo has won the Champions League, a tournament with all the best club teams in the world, five times. Messi has only won four. Each player has won their Continental tournament too. Ronaldo won the Euros in 2016 with Portugal and Messi won the CONMEBOL in 2022 with Argentina. Both players are argued to be the best of all time. Winning a World Cup would set apart one from the other.

Javier Barrera, a junior from Madrid and member of the Boys Varsity Soccer team, said he would be bummed if Messi falls short of winning the World Cup.

“Like Ronaldo, this World Cup is probably their last chance to win it, and they’ve been an example of hard work by trying so many times and seeing them come short makes me sad,” Javier said.

Ayden Kokoszka, a junior from Easthampton, Massachusetts and member of the Boys Varsity Soccer team, wants Messi to win the World Cup.

“I want Messi to win without question,” he said. “He deserves it especially with the career he has had and the millions rooting for him.”

Max Fujimori, a senior from Trumbull, Conn., is rooting for the underdogs now.

“I want Achraf Hakimi, [a Right Back on Morocco] to win,” Max, a senior on the soccer team, said. “The two teams I was supporting, the U.S. and Japan were knocked out a while back so I’ve been rooting for all the underdogs. Also, it would be really cool to see an African country win the World Cup, and I love Hakimi on Morocco so I want him to succeed. Especially if that means silencing all the annoying Messi and France fans.”

Jabari Decoteau, a senior from Brooklyn, N.Y., and member of the Boys Varsity Soccer team, believes Messi and Ronaldo can be content with their careers even without a World Cup trophy.

“Messi is the greatest footballer to touch the earth’s surface,” Jabari said. “Everything he did in his career could never be compared.”

As of  Dec. 18, Messi led Argentina to a World Cup win against France. Messi has now won the most prized trophy in all of soccer.