Behind the glamour, there’s an unmistakable shadow: a group of high-profile stars who, for varying reasons, won’t be there when the curtain rises.

For all of their transcendent talent, the sheer longevity of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may be just as staggering. More than two decades on from their debuts, the GOATs are still winning ...

Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo reigned over world football for more than a decade. They incessantly shared the throne ...