Portugal have joined Argentina in sealing a place in Qatar after edging North Macedonia in the UEFA Path C play-off final, but has Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi won a World Cup?
Portugal join Argentina in securing Qatar World Cup spot
Europe will be the most represented continent at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with UEFA earning 13 entries. Ten countries secured a place at the tournament through the qualifying campaign. But Portugal failed to top Group A, as Serbia sealed the only automatic position.
Fernando Santos’ Selecao finished three points from Serbia, who went unbeaten over their eight games. So, Portugal had to go through the play-offs, and overcame Turkey 3-1 in the semi-final before beating North Macedonia – who had eliminated Italy in the semis – 2-0.
Argentina secured their place at the Qatar World Cup in November to December 2022 via their qualifying group. Lionel Scaloni’s Albiceleste join table-toppers Brazil in representing South America, along with the third and fourth-placed qualifiers Uruguay and Ecuador.
Has Argentina icon Lionel Messi won a world cup?
Paris Saint-Germain star and Barcelona icon Messi is the most-capped player in Argentina history with 160 appearances so far. But the 34-year-old – who has won seven Ballon d’Or and two Fifa Men’s Player of the Year awards – is yet to help his country lift a World Cup.
Argentina have won football’s biggest trophy twice, with successes in 1978 and 1986. But La Albiceleste have only reached one final with Messi, which saw Germany beat Argentina 1-0 through Mario Gotze in the 113th-minute of extra-time at the 2014 edition in Brazil.
Messi scored four goals and provided one assist at the Brazil edition of the World Cup. He also scored and assisted once in 2006, assisted once in 2010 and scored one and assisted two in 2018. He has played a combined 19 times over four World Cup finals appearances.
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Has Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo won a world cup?
Manchester United star and Real Madrid icon Ronaldo is likewise Portugal’s most-capped player with 186 outings so far. And like Messi, the 37-year-old is yet to help his county lift a World Cup over four finals, with a personal-best finish of fourth-place at Germany 2006.
Ronaldo has featured 17 times in total over his four World Cup appearances, while offering seven goals and two assists. He scored his first in 2006, before scoring once at South Africa 2010, once in Brazil 2014 and four in Russia 2018. He also assisted once in 2010 and 2014.
A World Cup win in Qatar would mark Ronaldo and Portugal’s first, having never previously reached the final. The Selecao’s best run came in 1966 in England when the nation finished third. They have not advanced beyond the last 16 since finishing fourth in Germany 2006.
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