Who is there to support Messi and Ronaldo?

Argentina and Portugal must provide assistence to Messi and Ronaldo for either to win the illustrious golden trophy. That is the task of Jorge Sampaoli and Fernando Santos respectively.

The European outfit are in a much better position thanks to a successful European Championship campaign in 2016, winning the trophy to the shock of many supporters.

Argentina, on the other hand, have failed so far in their attempts for glory, losing to Germany in the World Cup final four years ago but will hope to go one better in Russia.

Sampaoli's squad looks more rough around the edges. Without Messi, they overcame Italy 2-0 and it did give a chance for his understudies to shine.

One of them was Sevilla's Ever Banega, author of the first goal, along with Manuel Lanzini who hit the ball beautifully to score 'La Albicelestes' second. They were helped by the omnipresent Angel Di Maria and a solid defence led by Nicolas Otamendi and Willy Caballero. It wasn't pretty, but it was a victory.

In Portugal, Ronaldo burst into action at the death, scoring two goals to turn the scoreboard on its head and secure a win for his national team. He even managed to outshine Mohamed Salah, whose one goal looked meager in comparison to the Real Madrid's brace.

Of course, Ronaldo could not do it alone and it was Ricardo Quaresma who produced two assists to help the 33-year-old continue his rich vein of form.

Santos mixed experience with youth against Egypt and it worked. Bernardo Silva, Guerreiro, Andre Silva and Joao Maria coexist with the old guards of Bruno Alves, Moutinho and Beto.

What is not in doubt is that both Messi and Ronaldo have a lot behind them going into the summer World Cup.