Could Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo meet again on the World Cup stage? As of July 2, the tournament bracket for the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup still leaves open the possibility for a showdown between the two legendary players.
Argentina and Portugal are positioned in separate brackets, meaning they cannot face each other until the final. Messi's Argentina will compete against Cape Verde in the Round of 32, while Ronaldo's Portugal will take on Croatia.
If Argentina defeats Cape Verde, their next opponent will be the winner of the match between Australia and Egypt. They would then need to navigate through a bracket that includes Switzerland, Algeria, Colombia, and Ghana. If they reach the semifinals, they could potentially face the winner from Brazil, Norway, Mexico, or England.
Ronaldo's path is challenging from the outset. Portugal will face Croatia in the Round of 32, where they will contend with Luka Modric. Both Ronaldo and Modric are in the twilight of their careers as they approach this World Cup tournament.
Should Portugal advance past Croatia, they will meet the winner of the match between Spain and Austria. Following that, they would face the winner of the game between the United States and Belgium, and then navigate through a bracket that includes France, Paraguay, Canada, and Morocco to reach the final.
For Argentina and Portugal to meet in the final, both teams must successfully navigate the Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals. This means a combined total of eight victories—four for Messi's Argentina and four for Ronaldo's Portugal—would be required. While the possibility of their last World Cup clash exists, it remains a distant scenario.
Messi and Ronaldo have been the defining rivals in world football for nearly two decades, yet they have never faced each other in a World Cup match.
The upcoming North America World Cup is viewed as a potential final stage for both 39-year-old Messi and 41-year-old Ronaldo. Messi lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar in 2022, while Ronaldo continues to aspire for Portugal's first World Cup victory.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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