A T 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is facing more challenges than just scoring goals in the World Cup. He is under the lens of his fans, his critics and the game’s pundits. Despite the blazing trail he has created over the years, the Portugal legend is in the midst of a tough examination. He has done well by silencing half of the doubters by becoming the first player to score at six different World Cups. Ronaldo’s double against Uzbekistan cleared the biggest doubt of his fans -- his hunger is intact. Yet, the scrutiny is set accompany him till Portugal play their last game in this World Cup. In a similar position was Lionel Messi before the start of this World Cup. The Argentine great had already fulfilled his biggest dream of winning the coveted trophy in the last edition.

 

It gave rise to a new query -- Is Messi eager enough for another World Cup? At 39, he was facing an apprehensive outlook from the football world before the iconic player silenced them all in one stroke. A hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match and then a double against Austria. However, pressure of performance is set to stay with him for the entire tournament. One failure and the naysayers will find their voice again. Far away from the football fields in the World Cup, the cricketing arena will also see the same script playing when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli begin their One-Day International sojourn in the India Blues.

 

The tour to England will be another test for the two senior citizens who have been shutting down critics with bold performances for the last couple of ODI series. A fresh probe is set to begin in the English conditions as the duo looks to playing their last 50-over World Cup next year. The Wimbledon grass will be host to a similar story as Novak Djokovic begins his quest for the elusive 25th major title. He is the last man standing from the famous FeDalOvic trio, holding their flag aloft on all surfaces. But the last hurdle is still too high for the Serbian. As he starts his serve at the All England club, there will be an added pressure of performance. Such is the pressure veterans and senior players face in the evening of their career.

 

There is a constant probe of their actions, their statements, their performance, and extra-deep analysis of their failures. Growing age and slowing body become the biggest attribute for any slip-up. Notwithstanding the roaring comebacks they make to settle the issue, just one bad game is taken as the only parameter for failure. Catcalls follow soon and it is only the mental strength of these players which helps them tide over the scrutiny. Almost every senior player in all sports has gone through this phase. Some could not make it big in their last hurrah but on most occasions, many veterans have left a solid mark on the game before calling it a day. The sporting arena spreading various continents will be witness to another such probing examination of legends for the next few days. For Messi and Ronaldo, the exam period is a small but tougher window. For Djokovic, the challenge is much tougher as he is directly in fight with bubbling youngsters. And for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the pressure will be manifold given the status cricket enjoys in India.