4 min readJun 22, 2026 08:33 AM IST Messi’s hat-trick in the defending champions’ 3-0 romp over Algeria was contrasted with the sorry figure the Portuguese superstar cut in 1-1 draw with underdogs Democratic Republic of Congo.With the two legends on the final legs of their careers, we analyse why. 1. Productivity in attack Messi attempted six shots in his first game, four of which were on target, yielding a conversion rate of 66.7 per cent. More remarkably, three of those attempts came from outside the penalty area. Ronaldo, in comparison, attempted three shots — all from inside the box — and failed to test the goalkeeper even once. ALSO READ | In Messi’s second goal & Sachin’s googly to Moin, an insight into genius minds 2. Game involvement Messi not only exerted a greater influence on the game, but was significantly more involved in it. He recorded 57 touches, with neither Lautaro Martínez nor Thiago Almada — his partners in attack — surpassing that figure. Ronaldo had 25 touches against Congo — his fewest …