On Thursday, the group stage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup came to an end. That date also featured the third match of Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup campaign and an opportunity to compare his performance with that of his perennial rival Lionel Messi.

How did the two biggest stars in the soccer world measure up head-to-head? Latin Post.com takes a look:

Messi Looking Like World-Beater at World Cup

Much was made of Messi's disappointing tournament through the first two games. While some would point to his two wonder goals against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iran (especially the latter), it would be hard to ignore that the Barcelona superstar had not lived up to standards. Most of those two opening games had been marked by long spells of invisibility and his ineffectiveness was highlighted by his team's massive struggles.

It seemed that Messi not only heard his critics but made it his intent to prove them wrong. Against Nigeria, Messi not only put up his finest performance of the tournament but arguably his finest display all year long. From the opening whistle, "La Pulga," as he is often called, looked like a man on a mission. The Mission? Carry his team on his back. And that he did.

Messi found space around a rather aggressive Nigerian backline and rarely made a mistake with the ball at his feet. After a terrific sequence of over 20 passes through the midfield, Messi drove home the opening goal with an emphatic strike that was a combination of perfect time and a tremendous release of anger. Messi usually does not score those kinds of goals, but the energy with which he drove home that ball was symbolic of his play throughout the evening. His second goal, however, could not be more different that his first.

Where his first goal was a spontaneous release of energy, his second was a display of masterful technique and intelligence. Messi had had a number of free kicks prior to the one in the 45th minute of the game, but they had been stopped by goalie Vincent Enyeama. But on the decisive kick, he took his time and then slotted the kick into the right side of the net. It was a perfect goal.

Messi's impact on the match was felt even more when he was taken off the pitch with 30 minutes left in the game. After he left, Argentina fell apart offensively; the side struggled to move the ball up the pitch with the same technical precision and intensity. It was not a horrid display by any stretch, but it lacked the flow that had been apparent with Messi on the pitch.

Ronaldo Unable to Lift Portugal to Next Round

Entering the final game against Ghana, it was hard to call Ronaldo's tournament a success. He was shut down against Germany and suffered a similar fate against the United States. Fortunately, he managed to create the game-tying assist that kept his nation alive. Now he would need to take the next step and lead the team to a huge victory.

He dominated the Ghana defense throughout the first half and had a few glorious opportunities to give his team a lead. At one point, he ran down the right wing and fired a shot at goal; it glanced off the crossbar, but could have easily been the goal of the tournament if it had gone in. Later on, he headed the ball at goal but was stopped by Ghana's goalkeeper; that was another sure goal. Ronaldo kept on firing away and eventually managed to score the winner at the 80th minute. He did not even celebrate the strike, knowing full well that his goal was not enough to lift his country out of the group stage. However, he continued to battle for more goals and created a few more chances to add to his account, but it was not meant to be. It was too little too late, and Portugal is on a flight home. For Ronaldo it marked yet another World Cup in which he walked away with just one goal; he now has three goals in 13 World Cup games.

After the group stage, it is pretty clear which man has had the better tournament, and that's Messi. One will remain in Brazil, the other is going back home.

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