One last shot at legacy

Sports can be very cruel.

Often, it is the final image that leaves the deepest imprint on fans’ minds. Think of Roberto Baggio. His decisive penalty miss in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil -- the moment that earned him the haunting label of ‘the man who died standing’ -- is remembered more vividly than the five goals he scored to almost single-handedly carry Italy there.

Or consider Zinedine Zidane. The sight of one of football’s greatest midfielders walking past the World Cup trophy and down the tunnel after his red card in the 2006 final remains one of the sport’s most enduring images.

Zidane didn't have another chance to change his story. Baggio, meanwhile, played in one more edition and added two more goals to his tally, but that hardly made amends for that miss in Pasadena four years earlier.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, however, may have one final opportunity to change their World Cup ending. Ronaldo exited the 2022 tournament in tears, while Neymar -- despite scoring a brilliant extra-time goal -- was unable to inspire Brazil past Croatia in the quarterfinals.

At the other end of the spectrum is Lionel Messi, who enters the tournament with a different mission altogether: not to rewrite his story, but to add another chapter to an already complete legacy after leading Argentina to their third world title in Qatar four years ago.

Though Ronaldo and Neymar are united by the possibility of one last shot, their realities are vastly different.

For Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, even making the squad remained uncertain until three weeks before the tournament’s June 11 kickoff.

The 34-year-old’s case has been shaped as much by emotion as by logic -- aside from Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who repeatedly insisted Neymar’s inclusion would depend solely on fitness, not sentiment.

The forward has endured a difficult run with injuries and has not represented the Selecao since suffering a serious setback during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023.

His modest returns with Santos -- just 13 appearances across all competitions this year -- has done little to silence doubters over whether his body can still withstand the demands of football’s grandest stage.

Yet Neymar has still managed six goals and three assists during that spell, and for many, the conversation around him extends beyond statistics. The brilliance he showed at his peak still lingers in memory, and for fans, pundits, and former teammates alike, that flair remains something Brazil may need if they are to secure a record-extending sixth World Cup crown.

For Ronaldo, the concerns are less about fitness and more about time.

At 41, age may no longer be on his side, but the numbers continue to defy it.

Five goals in five qualifying appearances may seem modest only because Ronaldo has spent over two decades redefining what extraordinary looks like. Though it has been a long time since he left European football behind, the former Real Madrid star remains Portugal’s main forward, chasing the unprecedented milestone of 1,000 career goals.

And if he scores in this tournament, Ronaldo will become the only player in history to find the net in six different World Cup editions -- a feat even Messi cannot match.

Still, his World Cup journey carries unfinished business.

For all his goals, Ronaldo has never scored in a knockout match at the tournament -- a glaring omission he will be desperate to erase, especially with perhaps the most balanced and gifted midfield at his disposal, featuring Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Joao Neves.

Portugal have qualified for every World Cup since Ronaldo’s debut in 2003, yet have reached only one semifinal, in 2006, and have managed just one knockout-stage victory since then.

Given the relentless hunger that has defined his career, Ronaldo will surely want more than individual milestones. With one of the tournament’s most complete squads behind him, this may be his final opportunity to lead Portugal all the way and further cement his place among football’s greatest -- alongside his lifelong rival, Messi.

The Argentine, however, arrives with little left to prove.

Messi and Ronaldo will become the only two players to take the field in six different World Cups, but beyond that shared distinction, Messi has already surpassed nearly every benchmark.

Eight Ballon d’Ors -- three more than Ronaldo. Two World Cup final appearances. A goal in the title-deciding match. And most importantly, the trophy itself -- the one he famously slept beside after Argentina defeated France in Qatar.

That night felt like football’s perfect ending.

Even Messi seemed to wonder: “What more could there be after this?”

As it turns out, Messi seems ready to add to that chapter of glory.

Now with Inter Miami, the Argentine will enjoy the advantage of familiarity with the conditions and venues in the USA. More importantly, he will be driven by the possibility of doing it all again for the Albiceleste.

The fact that he finished as the top scorer in South American qualifying should end any lingering doubts that he is far removed from the magician who illuminated Qatar.

With Messi, magic is inevitable.

With Ronaldo, goals always feel possible.

And with Neymar, Brazil’s hopes of Hexa feel brighter.

But the defining question remains: can Ronaldo and Neymar change the final image of their World Cup journeys?

Or will Messi, once again, find a way to add another golden frame to a masterpiece that already feels complete?

In a sport where legacies can be reshaped in a single moment, perhaps this World Cup will not just decide a champion -- but determine how three of football’s greatest stories are remembered.