CAIRO: Just like many around the world, Egyptians could not stop cracking jokes about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi exiting the World Cup.
Internet users in Egypt poked fun at the legendary players in memes that went viral on the internet.
Just a week ago, Egyptians were busy slamming their own team for crashing out of the tournament, empty-handed, after succeeding in making the tournament after a 28-year hiatus.
But Egypt’s football fans were somehow satisfied to see that even top footballers, like Messi and Ronaldo, were also heading home with their national teams.
Picture collages of Messi and Ronaldo carrying Arabic expressions sarcastically wondered what the top footballers will do after leaving the World Cup.
“So how are you going to spend the vacation, with your kids?” a meme showing both players ask one another as they appear stuck in a rope together.
Another meme showed Messi, Ronaldo, and Egypt’s Liverpool striker Mohammad Salah, all three seated together as they ‘eat ice cream’ to forget about their loss.
One post showed Ronaldo telling Messi: “I will win this championship for my nation and prove that I’m the best footballer in history ...”
To this fictional conversation Messi replies: “And I’m telling you, you are so heading back on the same plane as I am.”
Another photoshopped image showed both players patting each other on the shoulder while shedding tears as they exit the field.
Messi and Ronaldo are described as the best of their generation, but had never faced each other during a World Cup tournament.
Their exit from the tournament on Saturday has sparked endless reactions on Facebook and Twitter among fans across the globe.
