Sports

Will Ronaldo, Messi live up to reputations at World Cup?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are global superstars — yet neither has advanced beyond the semifinals on the world’s biggest stage.

Will they continue their frustrating underachievement on the international stage, failing to replicate their club form for country? Or will one lay claim to the title of best player of this generation, and join legends Pele and Diego Maradona among the greatest of all time?

Messi is so revered that Trinidad & Tobago’s Ataullah Guerra bowed to him before Argentina’s 3-0 win last Wednesday. And Ronaldo — dating model Irina Shayk — is such a rock star police had to pepper spray a stalker to keep her away from Portugal’s hotel in New Jersey on Monday … and she still came back for seconds.

When is not being great good enough? When only being a legend will do. For the better part of a decade, soccer fans have asked — OK, argued — over who is better: the tiny Argentine or the flashy Portuguese? We may find out over the next month in Brazil, if either leads his respective nation to glory in the World Cup.

“I do not want to be world champion with Argentina so that people can say that I will be a great like Pele or Maradona. I want to do it to achieve this objective with the national team, and to add this title to my list of trophies,’’ Messi told ESPN. “I feel some healthy envy towards my teammates at Barca who have won it. No matter how much I ask, they cannot explain what it feels like.’’

Lionel Messi has not played his best in prior World Cups.AP

Will Messi learn that feeling on July 13 with the Albiceleste? Still just 26, he already has won almost every possible honor, from the Champions League with Barcelona to a record four Ballon d’Or trophies as the world’s top player.

But Messi has just one goal in eight World Cup tilts, went 16 straight scoreless games for Argentina at one point before the appointment of coach Alejandro Sabella, and many of his countrymen won’t see him as an all-time great until he wins a World Cup as Maradona did in 1986.

Argentina hasn’t made the finals since 1990, but they received a good draw (Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina) with a Round of 16 date against the runner-up in Group E (France, Switzerland, Ecuador or Honduras).

Messi suffered through a tough — by his standards — injury-plagued campaign, seeing Atletico Madrid win La Liga and Ronaldo lead Real Madrid to the Champions League title and supplant him as Ballon d’Or winner.

Ronaldo poured in 31 goals this La Liga season — the most in Europe — and tallied in the Champions League final in Lisbon as well. At 29, he’s at the peak of his game, but he’s still recovering from tendinosis in his left knee that cost him friendlies against Greece and Mexico before returning for Tuesday’s final tuneup against Ireland at MetLife Stadium.

Ronaldo with his girlfriend, model Irina ShaykAP

“When he is ready to play is a decision that will be made just like any other player, regardless of who it is,” Portugal coach Paul Bento said. But Ronaldo isn’t just any other player.

A Ghanaian witch doctor actually took credit for Ronaldo’s injury (seriously). But even if he misses Portugal’s opener Monday against Germany, he seems sure to be ready in time to face the U.S. on June 22 in Manaus.

“We are expecting Cristiano Ronaldo to play.’’ Germany assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick said at a press conference. “He’s the world footballer of the year, he’s got a great record and is a player who can decide games himself.’’

But will he decide the argument of the world’s best player? We won’t know that until July 13.