CRISTIANO RONALDO and Lionel Messi were both knocked out of their Champions League semi-finals on the SAME DAY.
Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr were dumped out of the AFC Champions League after losing 3-2 to Japanese minnow side Kawasaki.
Lionel Messi crashed out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final with Inter Miami
Cristiano Ronaldo came close to tears as Al-Nassr crashed out of the AFC Champions League
And just hours later, Messi’s Inter Miami were hammered 5-1 in their Concacaf last-four clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Al-Nassr boasted a team packed with top talent including ex-Liverpool star Sadio Mane and former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran.
But despite having 21 shots and 75 per cent possession, Ronaldo, 40, failed to convert a shot from five yards in the final moments.
Mane’s deflected strike made it 1-1 in the 28th minute after Tatsuya Ito’s 10th-minute opener for the J-League side.
Yuto Ozeki and Akihiro Ienaga made it 3-1, before Aiman Yahya set up a grandstand finish as Al-Nassr pushed for an equaliser.
But the Uefa Champions League record goalscorer Ronaldo looked on the verge of tears at full-time after Kawasaki stood firm to set up a final against Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
And fans argued “the end is near” when Messi’s MLS side crashed out a few hours later.
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Inter Miami, trailing 2-0 from the first leg, were beaten 3-1 at home by the Canadian Whitecaps, who will face Mexican opposition in the final with Cruz Azul and Tigres in the other semi-final, which is finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg.
Messi failed to make an impact, with the GOAT’s former Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba grabbing the only goal for his side.
And fans were distraught after seeing arguably the two greatest footballers off all-time suffer in this way.
One said: “Our childhood is coming to an end .”
A second added: “Messi out. Ronaldo out. Their football era is really ending .”
A third replied: “Thank you for everything Ronaldo and Messi. But this is just sad to see.”
One more wrote: “My kids didn’t witness the Ronaldo and Messi era but they will witness Lamine Yamal‘s magic.”
Yamal produced a performance for the ages as he broke a pair of records in Barcelona‘s 3-3 draw with Inter Milan in the first leg of their semi-final.
The winger’s outrageous solo goal after 24 minutes also made him the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final.
The 17-year-old also became the youngest player to reach 100 Barca appearances.
And to make matters worse one of Ronaldo‘s Champions League records is now in jeopardy.
Raphinha needs just two more goal contributions to beat Ronaldo‘s record of 21 in a single campaign.
The Barcelona star grabbed his 20th contribution when he assisted Ferran Torres in the LaLiga side’s 3-3 draw with Inter.
That bettered Messi’s most productive season when the Argentine provided 19 contributions in 2011/12.
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