By DAVIDSON ABRAHAM, Middle East
With Cristiano Ronaldo set to miss Europe’s elite club tournament which he has dominated for more than a decade, his arch-rival Lionel Messi now has a chance to do the impossible by breaking CR7’s “unbreakable” record in the 2022-2023 edition of the UEFA Champions League.
After a disastrous campaign with Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in the Champions League last season, Argentine stalwart Messi has hit the ground running in the Ligue 1. Four-time Champions League winner is set to lead the Parisian club’s charge for European glory alongside Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
Ronaldo is the all-time leading goal-scorer in the Champions League; has netted 141 goals in his illustrious Champions League career. PSG icon Messi has fired 125 goals for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in the same competition. Messi can bridge the 15-goal gap on Ronaldo in the 2022-2023 season.
Ronaldo is expected to make his UEFA Europa League debut as Manchester United failed to qualify for the 2022-23 edition of the Champions League, and his absence hands Messi massive advantage in chasing Manchester United star’s elite UEFA Champions League record.
As a result of Ronaldo’s absence, all eyes will be on Messi, who is set to rewrite history in Europe’s biggest competition at the club level. While he was not at his brilliant best against the Bianconeri in Paris where he failed to score, he is expected to score a goal or two against Maccabi Haifa in PSG’s next UCL fixture Having scored three goals and provided another six assists in only 6 Ligue 1 appearances this season.
