HIBAPRESS-RABAT
According to ESPN, Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score in the group stage of an international tournament for the first time in their careers.
Argentina legend Lionel Messi was left on the bench in the 2-0 win over Peru on matchday three of the 2024 Copa América group stage.
The Argentine star was injured before the match, so the coaching staff decided not to use him in order to prepare him as best as possible for the knockout phase of the tournament.
Messi failed to impose himself in the group stage, as he appeared in the first two matches against Canada and Chile and failed to score.
Ronaldo has fared no better than Messi, having failed to score in his country’s three Euro group stage games, against Turkey, Georgia and the Czech Republic.
