Greatest show

HERE we go again.

In June of this year, all the world’s eyes will turn to Russia, host to what is often known as “the greatest show on earth,” the FIFA World Cup, which showcases the world’s best footballers in action.

For one action-packed month, the event is sure to catch the world’s total attention. Never mind the scuttling of the Iran deal, or the denuclearization of Korea. Nobody will care about anything else. As long as Messrs. Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Coutinho and the like are in action, Kim Jong Un, the Iranian mullahs and even Donald Trump will all have to take a back seat.

There is a lot of drama attached to this quadrennial event during its latest edition. One of this is certain to be the last showdown between two of the greatest footballers of this generation, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the last 10 years, it was only ever one of these players who took home the Balon D’Or accolade, the award given to the best football player in the world for that year. Messi and Ronaldo won five awards each, appropriating the distinction as their own personal rivalry. This World Cup is probably the last for both players, with both of them already in their 30s.

Interestingly enough, while they have won football’s highest awards for themselves and their clubs, neither has lifted the Jules Rimay trophy for their country. Will this year be the year that one of them finally will?

It will be a very intriguing matchup that both will be relishing for sure. While they have kicked their boots in anger against each other for their clubs many times over the course of their careers, they have never been on the same pitch together while playing for their countries. If both of their teams have luck on their side this time around, they may yet fulfill what has to be one of the most awaited spectacles of all time.

Par for the course in terms of drama, too, is the rise of new superstars who have emerged in recent years. As a team, none perhaps come close to the Belgians in terms of the promise of youth. The likes of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United – all used to kicking each other’s shins in the English Premier League – will be playing together as a band of brothers, against many of the superstars that they play with in their clubs week in and week out.

Arguably, though, the most awaited spectacle has a distinctly Middle Eastern flavor to it. Liverpool’s Mo Salah, dubbed “The Egyptian King” by throngs of delirious Reds fans the world over, has taken the English Premier League by storm. Breaking every scoring record available, and garnering almost all awards in the English game this season, all the world is waiting with baited breath to see how far the modern-day pharaoh will be able to take his unheralded team in this tournament.

Having single-handedly taken Egypt to the finals with his last-minute penalty kick during the qualifiers, expectations for him to perform at the highest stage are high. King Mo’s coronation awaits, especially if he plays well enough to dethrone Messi and Ronaldo from their lofty perch.

There are other exciting plots to unfold as well. Perennial winners Germany will be tough to crack as ever. So will the silky smooth Spaniards.

And England, flying very much under the radar for a change, may yet surprise a few opponents with their youth-laden team full of present and future Premier League superstars.

So here we go again. Allez, allez, allez. The whole world awaits the unfolding of the greatest show on earth.

(http://asbbforeignexchange.blogspot.com & http://twitter.com/asbbatuhan)