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By the end of the Qatar World Cup, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's fortunes couldn't be starker: one ascended to the throne in glory, while the other was dragged out like a dethroned despot. But don't let recent bias blind you into forgetting how blessed we are to live during their time, writes Sibusiso Mjikeliso.
Per their iconic chess match advert, Lionel Messi didn't so much checkmate Cristiano Ronaldo at the end of the FIFA World Cup as he watched him get escorted out of the tournament in seeming dishonour.
While winners Argentina propelled Messi into the pantheon of the sport - and possibly of all team codes - Ronaldo left the scene after Portugal's defeat like a dethroned former dictator getting dragged naked through the streets for everyone's amusement.
