Spain shut the World Cup door on the two legends who dominated its league for nearly two decades.
First it was Cristiano Ronaldo, with Portugal knocked out. Then came Messi, with Argentina defeated in the World Cup final.
Two stories, the same executioner, and a national team that would later end up becoming world champion in 2026.
That fate brought those names together with Spain is no small coincidence: it was in Barcelona and Madrid where Messi and Cristiano became the best players on the planet.
And it was Spain that ended up writing the final chapter of their World Cup dreams.