India, Oct. 7 -- The jersey reveal, the golden lettering, the drones in the sky, the tears in the crowd, the emotions on social media and everyone in the stadium at Buenos Aires, including Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, asking Lionel Messi to stay on.

Across the Atlantic, during a Nations League match against Norway, Portugal manager Jorge Jesus left their legend Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old captain, as an unused substitute. Ronaldo, upset by the decision, walked out of the Portugal national team and left Copenhagen before the game where they beat Denmark. No one asking him to stay. No tears being shed. Not yet.

Two players, two of the greatest ever, two who defined an era, two who inspired a generation and each other. One woul...