NEW YORK – The eyes of the soccer world can be glued on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as they each take the worldwide stage for the Copa América and UEFA Euro tournaments, respectively, this summer season.
Messi will compete for Argentina, two years faraway from his first World Cup title. Ronaldo will take the pitch for Portugal, hoping to win the event as soon as extra.
This 12 months, each gamers come into their tournaments seemingly within the twilight of their careers. Messi, 36, has been dominating Major League Soccer with Inter Miami. Ronaldo, 39, is the highest goalscorer within the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr.
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Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus F.C., left, avoids Lionel Messi of Barcelona in the course of the UEFA Champions League Group G stage match at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, on Dec. 8, 2020. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
FOX Sports soccer broadcaster Stu Holden mentioned he is not prepared to imagine two of the best soccer gamers on the planet are completed with their careers simply but.
“I don’t need to guess towards these guys. One of the good skills within the sport lately is a capability to remain wholesome and carry out at a excessive stage,” Holden instructed Fox News Digital in a current interview. “And I’m regularly amazed. I do know I’m a man who misplaced my profession early by way of accidents, however the elite of the elite, it’s their potential to carry out beneath stress and ship regularly on the sector, however they’re on the sector.”
“These guys not often have had main accidents. If you take a look at Ronaldo, he’s most likely obtained the physique of a 21-year-old nonetheless in his physique. And but, Messi has been capable of evolve and alter his sport and adapt to his present bodily restraints, which he nonetheless has that intense pace and acceleration and ending potential.”
Holden mentioned he would go so far as to guess each Ronaldo and Messi can be enjoying for his or her respective golf equipment when the World Cup involves the United States in 2026.
“If we will experience this Messi vs. Ronaldo, within the comparability that has most likely pushed them internally as nicely of their motivation to maintain pushing, and so long as they’ve that drive, there’s no cause these guys can’t nonetheless be enjoying at a excessive stage for a few years to come back.”
Lionel Messi of Argentina is proven throughout a sport between Ecuador and Argentina at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 9, 2024. (Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
FOX SPORTS’ ALEXI LALAS, STU HOLDEN TALK PREPARATION BEFORE ‘SUMMER OF SOCCER’ KICKS OFF
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is proven throughout warm-ups for the International Friendly match towards Croatia in Lisbon, Portugal. (Henrique Casinhas/SOPA Images/LightRocket through Getty Images/File)
FOX Soccer broadcaster Alexi Lalas mentioned Ronaldo and Messi competing within the Euro and Copa América, respectively, is one more reason why these tournaments matter.
“There was a time not too way back earlier than Messi was a champion of the world the place it didn’t go nicely by way of the ultimate product, and he retired,” Lalas mentioned. “I’m simply fascinated this summer season, because it pertains to 2026, what he seems like with Argentina now within the first time for the reason that World Cup and, extra importantly, how a lot has modified relative to how we take a look at him. Not that he’s nice, however within the context of America and his new yard and his neighborhood and [what] he’s doing with Inter Miami, versus Cristiano Ronaldo over there in Saudi Arabia, and for lots of people, it’s sort of out of [sight], out of thoughts.
“Even although they’re competing in tournaments, and so they’re taking place on the identical time, there’ll [still] be the inevitable examine and distinction with what’s occurring and the fates of each of those groups relative to those two unimaginable gamers.”
Copa América and UEFA Euro 2024 will each be introduced on FOX Sports from June 14 to July 14, as a part of a “Summer of Soccer.”
FOX Sports would be the dwelling of UEFA Euro for the primary time and can increase protection of Copa América within the United States.
Watch all of the protection on Fox Sports. (Fox Sports)
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FOX Sports will current 78 matches over 30 days. UEFA Euro matches, held in Germany, will begin at 9 a.m. ET, midday ET and three p.m. ET, and Copa matches are held within the afternoon and night within the U.S.
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