Football legends, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, for the first time since the 2004-05 season, have bowed out of the UEFA Champions League before the quarter-final stage, signaling a possible era change for the dynamic duo who have lit up our football screens for the last two decades.
Juventus crash out on Tuesday March 9following a poor performance against Porto home and away while FC Barcelona crashed out against a superb Paris Saint Germain (PSG) on Wednesday night, March 10, despite Barca trying their best on the night .
Neither Messi’s nor Ronaldo’s clubs will feature in the quarter-final stage of the Champions League season.
FC porto’s Sergio Oliveira’s extra-time free-kick confirmed Ronaldo’s third straight knockout round exit with Juventus.
Then on Wednesday night, March 10, Kylian Mbappe-inspired PSG avenged their 2017 trounce at the hands of Barcelona by registering a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Prince.
Though Messi netted a stunning goal in the 2nd leg, he missed a crucial penalty to help Barca qualify for the quarter-finals with a 5-2 margin on aggregate.
Back in the 2004-2005 season, the Catalan giants were outclassed by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League during the 2004-05 season.
While Ronaldo represented Manchester United when AC Milan thwarted Red Devils’ bid of entering the quarter-finals at the time. The 2005 edition of the UEFA Champions League was won by Steven Gerrard-led Liverpool. The Reds had upstaged AC Milan in the famous Istanbul final on penalties to lift their fifth European crown at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.