They were similar interventions, crucial contributions to rescue wretched games. They were separated by four hours and about 200 kilometres. They both featured men who are more accustomed to scoring goals than supplying them.
Gareth Bale's cross was turned into the Northern Ireland net by the unfortunate Gareth McAuley. Cristiano Ronaldo's shot gave Ricardo Quaresma an open goal. Wales and Portugal are Euro 2016 quarterfinalists, thanks to theirGalacticos.
The Real Madrid colleagues may have been equals on Saturday, but they are shaping up as rivals. Not just because their countries could meet in next week's semifinals either, or because both are contenders to leave Euro 2016 with the Golden Boot in their luggage; theirs is a contest that may not conclude for another six months.
The Welshman is mounting a stealth challenge for the Ballon d'Or. Bale, though he is seemingly unconcerned by such matters and maybe unaware of them. Ronaldo surely is aware but, far from being measured against Lionel Messi, the risk now is that he is demoted to secondary status at Real Madrid.
It may be an exaggeration -- or too early -- to say Bale and Ronaldo are the front-runners for the game's greatest individual prize, especially when the man many consider the greatest of all time is making a case for himself: Messi's Copa America excellence, along with admiration for his remarkable ability, could yet propel him to a sixth crown.
Yet the reality is that neither Messi nor Ronaldo has ever won the Ballon d'Or in a season when the other has won the Champions League. The electorate -- the coaches and the captains of the national teams and the representatives of the international media -- place a weight by conquering Europe with a club. Not since 2010, when Andres Iniesta was the runner-up to Messi, has a winner of a World Cup, a European Championship or a Copa America even come second.
So Argentina's exploits may count for little. So too, might those of, say, Paul Pogba, Thomas Muller or Iniesta, if they should inspire their country to Euro 2016 glory. Real's record 11th Champions League crown, on the other hand, assumes an importance. But so, too, do the fortunes of their two leading men.
Bale cannot rival Ronaldo's statistical supremacy. The Portuguese scored 51 goals last season; the Welshman had 19, even if he suffered from an injury-hit campaign and is rarely afforded the chance to inflate his figures by taking Real's free kicks and penalties. His case rests with the quality, not quantity, of his involvement.
Ronaldo, with 16, was the Champions League's top scorer, but Bale contributed more at the business end of the competition. The only goal in the semifinal win over Manchester City was eventually debited to Fernando, but it had initially been credited to Bale.
The Welshman played a pivotal part in taking Real to Milan and a much more prominent role than his semi-fit Portuguese teammate in the final. Bale was responsible for the assist to Sergio Ramos' goal. While Ronaldo ensured the abiding images of Real's triumph centred on him by scoring the decisive fifth penalty, Bale had also converted his spot kick.
Advantage Bale on the big stage? If so, Euro 2016 may solidify that impression. He has outscored Ronaldo, three to two and, unlike his shot-happy teammate, has had a positive impact in every game. Bale's free kicks have gone in. The Portuguese's have flown everywhere except the net.
Ronaldo has had a contentious campaign, his struggles notable for a sense of schadenfreude and hubristic gloating. He may have cost himself the votes of the Icelandic delegation with his graceless criticism of the minnows after they held Portugal to one goal. Ronaldo feels a man at war with himself, his teammates, opponents and television microphones alike.
Bale has enjoyed an uplifting few weeks, which could reinforce ideas that he is a difference-maker. Wales are making history. Their first major tournament for 58 years will go down as a success; reach the last four and it will be their most successful ever.
Portugal could exit earlier than in the 2004 and 2012 European Championships, when they were finalists and semifinalists respectively. One is a story of overachievement with a pronounced feelgood factor, the other of a frenzied attempt to stave off regression.
It will be an instructive if there is a backlash against Ronaldo and if the romance of Wales' rise benefits Bale. Certainly Bale's less obviously egotistical persona may aid his cause. Football is a team game, Bale appears more of a team player and the unity in the Welsh camp is obvious. There were no recriminations from their marquee player when England earned a late victory against them.
Ronaldo's reaction when Hungary scored their third goal against Portugal was that of a man who looked as though he felt his colleagues were betraying him, even if his response thereafter -- delivering his second equaliser -- was admirable.
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