Lionel Messi, Oscar Pistorius - Sports Greats Whom Fate Dumped The Same Day

Lionel Messi and Oscar Pistorius - both inspiring figures and arguably the greatest of their respective sports. The similitude doesn't end there, as they had each others company on a day when both saw spectacular fall from grace.

On Wednesday, Argentina and Barcelona great Messi was sentenced to a jail-term of 21 months for being found guilty of tax-fraud. The same day, South African para-athlete Pistorius was sentenced to six years in prison for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

While Messi may not have to serve his jail term as under Spanish law those sentenced to under two years for non-violent crimes do not serve time in prison, Pistorius will not be that lucky. Yet, after Wednesday, the high pedestal that fans had mounted both on is bound to crack.

And, this once gain goes on to show how very vulnerable and morally weak our idols can be. If they cease to be just greats in their own arena and transform into ultimate role models, it has more to do with our need for a 'superhero' than their aim to become one.

Shamed for life

Yet, on this day, both Messi and Pistorius cut solitary figures in their respective courtrooms in Madrid and Pretoria, respectively. The duo were never trained to be part of this ordeal, yet for the rest of their lives both will have to deal with it.

Barcelona star Messi, in particular, has cut a very sorry figure of late. After finishing on the losing side yet again in an international tournament's final, this time the Copa America Centenario, Messi had it enough. He announced his international retirement, after conceding he might never win an international trophy.

A week after the decision, which shook the sporting world, came another shocker. Messi, 29, and his father were accused by the Spanish tax office of defrauding the government of 4.2 million euros ($4.7 million) in tax between 2007 and 2009.

Fallen hero

Pistorius, on the other hand, always seemed to see his punishment coming. In 2013, he was accused of shooting Steenkamp through a toilet cubicle door at his home.

He was freed from prison in the October, 2015, after serving one year of a five-year term for culpable homicide - the equivalent of manslaughter. However, the Supreme Court of Appeal had in December ruled that Pistorius was guilty of murder.

On Wednedsay, the verdict was announced which will see the first para-athlete to compete in Olympics (London, 2012) spend the next six years in prison.

These two are not exceptions. Maria Sharapova, Lance Armstrong, Diego Maradona, Mike Tyson have all seen their reputation tarnished for condemnable acts.

Their examples are, however, not enough for fans to see their idols as mere mortals. Again heroes will rise, only to fall again.