What film did everyone love that you just did not get?

[CodyRhodes]

Ronaldo at 41 scoring at a World Cup is absurd. Whatever anyone thinks of his personality or his playing style the longevity is completely without precedent at this level of the game

[EdgeLord]

Saturday's final group stage games are delivering the inevitable comparison fodder. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scored in their final group match against Colombia in Miami Gardens to continue adding to his World Cup tally as Portugal progressed as Group K runners-up behind Colombia. Ronaldo, 41, has been central to coverage since the tournament began despite Portugal having significant quality across the squad under new coach Roberto Martinez. He unveiled a new pair of gold boots at the Golden Boot ceremony earlier in the week.

Argentina, meanwhile, rested Messi for their final group game against Jordan in Dallas. The decision confirms what Scaloni has been signalling throughout the tournament: Messi is being managed carefully across a 39-day competition that could run to the final on July 19. Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez will start instead, allowing Messi to be fully prepared for the Argentina versus Cape Verde round of 32 matchup on July 3 in Miami. The Argentina squad depth is sufficient that resting Messi against Jordan does not risk their position as group winners.

The Messi-Ronaldo comparison thread that has run through every tournament since 2006 is alive and well at this one. Ronaldo continuing to play and score at 41 while Messi is being rested at 38 to protect him for the knockouts represents the philosophical difference in how each man and each team is managing the twilight of their international careers. Both are, objectively, still among the most influential players at the tournament.

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[Lucy_35]

Resting Messi for the Jordan game is exactly the right call. He has scored five goals already. Argentina know what they have. Getting him to Miami on July 3 fresh and motivated against Cape Verde is worth far more than another performance against Jordan

[Nina24]

The new gold boots Ronaldo unveiled are the most Ronaldo thing that has happened this entire tournament and that is a very high bar given everything else he has done since arriving in North America

[WildManCena23]

Golden Boot race in a World Cup where Messi is on five and Haaland and Mbappe and Dembele are all in the mix is going to be genuinely competitive. The knockout rounds are where the trophy races are decided

[Lion42]

Portugal under Martinez have been impressive this tournament beyond just Ronaldo. They beat Uzbekistan 5-0 and have quality throughout the squad. If they can limit their reliance on Ronaldo in tight knockout games they are a genuine semi-final contender

[Tyler_16]

The Messi-Ronaldo last dance narrative is built into every World Cup they play at this point. Even when one of them is being rested and the other is playing the comparison is unavoidable. The media will generate this content until one of them actually retires

[Priya_39]

Cape Verde versus Messi's Argentina on July 3 is going to be one of the most watched round of 32 games in World Cup history. The contrast between the two sides' resources and status could not be more extreme