Two of soccer’s defining figures are starting what could be their final World Cup runs, and the path ahead leaves open one last showdown. Argentina faces Algeria on Tuesday and Portugal meets Congo on Wednesday, with a possible knockout-stage meeting between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo still hanging in the balance.
Messi, 38, and Ronaldo, 41, have shaped much of the sport’s modern era. The idea of one more meeting adds another layer to a tournament already loaded with legacy for both players, especially as each nears the end of a remarkable international career.
A rivalry that defined an era
From 2008 to 2017, Messi and Ronaldo were the only players to win the Ballon d’Or, soccer’s top individual prize. Each won it five times in that span, with Messi adding three more awards since then.
Their rivalry was sharpened by years spent at the center of Barcelona and Real Madrid. Messi played for Barça from 2004 to 2021, while Ronaldo starred for Los Blancos from 2009 to 2018, turning La Liga into a weekly stage for one of sport’s most watched duels.
Across 37 head-to-head matches, including a club friendly in 2023, the numbers remain close. Both players have scored 23 goals in those meetings, while Messi holds the edge in wins with a 17-11-9 record against Ronaldo.
What has changed since the peak
Messi has separated himself in the years since that rivalry was at its fiercest. He now leads Ronaldo in Ballon d’Or awards, 8-5, and he also guided Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022.
Portugal’s best World Cup finish with Ronaldo remains fourth place, which keeps the tournament’s biggest prize just beyond his reach. That missing title has become a central part of the conversation around what he has said will be his final appearance at the World Cup.
Since Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018, the rivalry has cooled. Messi and Ronaldo have met only twice since 2020, in a Champions League match in December 2020 and a club friendly in 2023.
Why this World Cup feels different
Neither player is competing in Europe anymore. Messi has been with MLS club Inter Miami since 2023, and Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in the same year.
That distance has only made the possibility of a final matchup feel rarer. If Argentina and Portugal both advance to the knockout stage, soccer could get one last chapter in a rivalry that defined an era.
Ronaldo has also said that winning the World Cup will not define his place in the sport. In comments made last November, he said, “If you ask me, ‘Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup?’ No, it’s not a dream,” adding, “Do you think it’s fair?”
For now, the focus is on the opening matches and the chance that both legends keep moving forward. If they do, the tournament could deliver a matchup that fans have been waiting years to see again.
