Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's futures remain up in the air

Posted Tuesday, July 04, 2017 by Marca.com

The world of football is on tenterhooks as its two dominating stars are yet to confirm their futures.

Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are indulged in a period of uncertainty that simply has no precedent across their otherwise stable and logical careers.

However it's fair to say that Barcelona star Messi is further down the road than his Ballon d'Or counterpart and his contract situation at the Camp Nou seems to be a formality.

Recently married, the Argentine has 12 months to run on his current deal and all signs point towards him finally putting pen to paper on a five-year extension worth 32 million euros per season, the biggest in footballing history.

This would also mean entering the contract into the new fiscal year, as is Barcelona's preference.

On the other side of the Clasico divide is a quagmire that has been ongoing for almost a month and yet feels like it's only just started.

Ronaldo came hot off the back of a double winning campaign not seen in Madrid since 1958 and was slapped with a huge tax fraud case worth 14.7m euros.

Agitated, the winger communicated through the press his intention to leave Spain for good and Los Blancos were sent into a panic that has not been eased by Ronaldo's silence during the Confederations Cup.

Unlike Messi, his next decision is far from predictable and Real are itching to sit down with the player and understand exactly what they can do to persuade him to stay, which they hope to do so this week

.After those talks, either Ronaldo will return to being somewhat satisfied amidst his tax case continuing in earnest, or he will persist and push for a move. Either way, pretty much everybody's reputation stands to be bruised by this most sudden of scenarios.