Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar are three of the greatest players of their generation, but none of the trio are yet to taste the sweet success of lifting the greatest ever trophy in footballing context – the Fifa World Cup.
The three stars from top three footballing nations who have been performing in the top stage for a long time are ageing, and apparently the 2022 Qatar World Cup is the last chance for ultimate glory for the senior two at least – Ronaldo and Messi.
Neymar may get chances to represent Brazil in this stage in future, but fitness can be an issue for him as the 30-year old is not that fit compared to the other two.
Messi was in fine form recently for club and country and came to Qatar as one of the favorites to hold the cup on the final day.
But their loss against Saudi Arabia in the very first game to break their 36-game unbeaten record gave the two-time World Cup winners a reality check.
Messi's clubmate, Neymar, who hasn't spoken a word publicly since arriving at the World Cup, will face Serbia for the second successive time in the group stage Thursday.
The Brazilian is also in superb form with Paris Saint-Germain, and has company of a wonderful squad who can dream of bringing the legacy back to the South American region after 20 years of trophy drought.
Neymar, who had a series of injuries since the 2018 World Cup — when the Selecao was beaten by Belgium in the quarter-finals – has kept his intentions clear when he posted a photo on social media with a sixth star photoshopped onto his shorts around Brazil's logo during the flight to Qatar.
On the contrary, Ronaldo with his below-average performance at Manchester United this season is troubled with more off-field complications lately, especially when he gave an explosive interview to Piers Morgan a few days ago on the treatment he got from the club's hierarchy.
The statement resulted in an immediate impact on his second tenure with the English giant club as both parties agreed to get separated just a couple of days before Portugal's opening World Cup match against Ghana on the same day.
The five-time Ballon d'or winner is now searching for a new club in parallel to his preparation of playing in the fifth World Cup as a player.
The recent issues and form have kept him in an uncomfortable situation even in the Portugal dressing room, and in response to media on this he said he is bullet-proof, and hinted that these things won't matter when he takes the field.
