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Messi Was Faster To 100, But Ronaldo’s UCL Knockout Stage Record Is Untouchable

A few weeks ago, Lionel Messi reached the landmark of 100 goals in the UEFA Champions League, joining Cristiano Ronaldo as the only footballer to achieve the feat. The following comparisons between the two were inevitable, because for the last 10 years, it’s just been Ronaldo and Messi at the top of the world’s premier club competition.

In fact, you’d have to go back to the 2006-07 season and AC Milan’s Kaká to find the last Champions League top scorer by season not named Ronaldo or Messi. 

10 Players Destined To Become Cult Icons At The 2018 FIFA World Cup

Due to the dawning of the internet, increased globalization and the heavy concentration of players plying their trade in European club football, there are hardly any unknown quantities at the World Cup now. Years back, nations like Panama, Iceland and Peru would’ve left opposing managers scrambling for information, but in 2018, that’s hardly the case.

Can South America Finally Break Its European World Cup Curse?

Historically speaking, things look pretty bleak for the five South American nations set to compete in Russia this summer. Over the history of the World Cup, the event has taken place in Europe 10 times. Collectively, if you break those tournaments down by how things finished, European nations have accounted for 34 of the 40 top four finishes (85%), leaving South America with only six success stories:

3 Nations Primed For Devastatingly Poor World Cups

Since the turn of the 21st century, it’s happened without fail: every World Cup, three nations that began the tournament ranked in FIFA’s top 20 have been unceremoniously dumped from the competition at the group stage. In fact, in two of the four World Cups this century, three of the world’s top 10 ranked sides have capitulated before the knockout rounds. 

Here’s a rundown of the three highest ranked sides to fall at the first hurdle in the last four tournaments:

2002 

For The First Time Ever, MLS Could Politely Tell Liga MX To Sit Down, Shut Up

Eighteen years. That’s how long it’s been since the L.A. Galaxy defeated Honduran side CD Olimpia 3-2 in the final of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, becoming only the second and, to date, final MLS side to win the region’s continental championship. 

When D.C. United won the tournament in 1998 with the likes of Roy Lassiter, Jeff Agoos, Eddie Pope and Marco Etcheverry running circles around León and Toluca, there wasn’t the reward of a FIFA Club World Cup. 

When Fierce Rivals Barca And Atletico Face Off This Weekend, The Title Will Be On The Line

With only nine matches remaining in the 2017-18 Primera Division Femenina, Sunday’s meeting between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona will likely decide the title. The two sides have rarely been troubled by the rest of the division, and they’ve distanced themselves at the top of the table, where Atletico hold a one-point advantage over Barca.

Why Colombia Must Not Be Allowed To Win The World Cup

For many, especially in South America, the World Cup is everything. Every four years football fans tune in with hopes of seeing their country lift the trophy. For some (Germany, Brazil), this is a legitimate expectation. For others (England, the U.S.), it’s a mere pipe dream. The Colombia World Cup hopes are somewhere in between, but I really hope Los Cafeteros aren’t the last ones standing in Russia come July. 

Clint Dempsey And Nicolas Lodeiro Could Be The Death Of Chivas

We now know the entire field for the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, and after confirming a matchup between MLS best Toronto FC and Liga MX champions Tigres, we now have confirmation of another tasty encounter between the leagues — MLS runners-up the Seattle Sounders and 2017 Clausura champions (but now tanking) Guadalajara.    

No Lie, Tigres vs. Toronto FC Will Be The Greatest CCL Quarterfinal Ever

Over the course of the last few years, Tigres UANL have established themselves as Liga MX’s premier side. While they’ve captured three-straight Apertura titles, they’ve also suffered the heartbreak of back-to-back defeats in CONCACAF Champions League finals, losing to America in 2016 and Pachuca in 2017. They’ll be desperate to represent the region at the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup in the UAE.

It’s Arsenal vs. Milan Again With A Couple Subtle Changes

For the first time since the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Arsenal have been drawn against AC Milan in European competition. But, with the encounter now taking place in the Europa League and the added coinkydink of both sides sitting sixth domestically (both are also eight points back of fourth place), there’ll be a lot of glorious nostalgia mixed with contemporary handwringing before the San Siro first leg on March 8.

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