Following underwhelming performances by Juventus and FC Barcelona in UEFA Champions League Round of 16, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will not be able to make it to the quarter-final stage of the elite competition for the first time since season 2004-05.
Messi and Barcelona were eliminated at the last-16 stage by PSG, who drew 1-1 against the Spanish side on Wednesday to seal a 5-2 aggregate triumph. The day before, Porto stunned Juventus and Ronaldo, advancing after a thrilling extra-time battle in the second leg in Turin.
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The last time both superstars missed the last eight of the competition, Messi and Barcelona were eliminated by Chelsea in the last 16. Ronaldo, meanwhile, was with Manchester United at the time, with the Red Devils also going out in the round of 16 against AC Milan.
Overall, Ronaldo has won the Champions League five times, while Messi has won the competition on four occasions – most recently in 2014-15.
In the 2004-2005 season, Messi was still playing for Barcelona when the Catalan giants were outclassed by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League during the 2004-05 season. Messi’s arch-rival Ronaldo represented Manchester United when AC Milan thwarted Red Devils’ bid of entering the quarter-finals at the time. The 2005 edition of the UEFA Champions League was won by Liverpool, which was led by Gerrad in those days. The Reds had upstaged AC Milan in the famous Istanbul final on penalties to lift their fifth European crown at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.
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