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World Cup stage is set for Messi and Ronaldo, who are not ready for their 'Last Dance' just yet

It's not a "Last Dance." Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi has announced their retirement, and neither man has already won the biggest prize in football, the World Cup, which is what the next five weeks are all about.

It's not a "Changing of the Guard," either. Sure, they have heirs apparent, but of the two obvious ones -- Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe -- one will be watching Qatar 2022 on TV because Norway failed to qualify, while the other is surrounded by so much talent on a France team that are already World Champions that it's hard to see him standing out and needing to carry them the way Cristiano and Leo did regularly for club and country.