In Messi's absence, Argentina qualified for the knockout round as group winners with a 2-0 win over Peru in the third round of the Copa America. Although Messi was unavailable for this game, he and Mbappe set a good example for Ronaldo in similar situations.
In my previous article, I mentioned that with Portugal already locked in six points to secure qualification, the result of the third round of the group stage is irrelevant. Therefore, in the match against Georgia, Portugal rotated the starting line-up to help the main players save energy for the upcoming intense knockout match. However, Ronaldo went his own way, insisted on starting the game, and when the team fell behind and he failed to score, he lost control of his emotions when he was substituted and kicked a water bottle to vent his anger. I think Cristiano Ronaldo's insistence on starting will affect Portugal's subsequent games, after all, he is 39 years old and his physical recovery speed cannot be compared to when he was younger. This article of mine has caused dissatisfaction and even abuse from many Ronaldo fans.
To evaluate whether Ronaldo's behavior is competitive or selfish, it is clear to look at the performance of Messi and Mbappe in the same situation. In the group stage between Argentina and Peru this morning, Argentina made a rotation decision on the premise that they had locked in six points to ensure promotion. Messi, the core of the team, did not appear in the starting lineup, but sat on the bench from beginning to end to watch the game. Although there are media reports that Messi has leg discomfort, judging from his appearance on the bench, he is in good shape, and accepting the rotation is more to save energy for the upcoming knockout round.
A similar situation happened at the 2018 World Cup. France secured qualification with three points from their first two group games. In this case, the French team rotated, and the then 19-year-old Mbappe also accepted the arrangement, and did not come on as a substitute until the 78th minute of the game. The well-managed France team went all the way to the next game to win the World Cup, and Mbappe also performed well in the following games, scoring three goals.
The older Messi is well aware of his physical condition and understands his central role in the team, and chooses a substitute for the next game victory. Although the young Mbappe recovered quickly, he also gave up his personal interests for the sake of the team's results and accepted the substitute. These two players set a great example for the team! And the 39-year-old Ronaldo's insistence on starting in inconsequential games has had a negative impact on the team and put manager Martinez in a difficult situation, which is undoubtedly a selfish performance. So when you're in a team, do you want Ronaldo or Messi or Mbappe?