Messi and Ronaldo could face off in the 2026 World Cup final

Argentina and Portugal were placed in different brackets, meaning the two superstars can only meet in the final. Messi is chasing records with 6 goals, while Ronaldo became the first player to score in 6 different World Cups.

Scraper SystemJune 30, 2026, 09:44 AM

Messi and Ronaldo could face off in the 2026 World Cup final

The possibility of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo facing each other in a World Cup match for the first time in their careers is seen as one of the biggest excitements of the 2026 tournament. However, this legendary meeting can only happen in the final.

Argentina finished the group stage as leaders with three wins and were drawn against Cape Verde in the round of 32. Portugal, finishing second in their group, will face Croatia in the same round. According to the tournament fixture, the two teams are in different brackets, so there is no chance of meeting in the quarterfinals or semifinals; the only possible meeting point is the final.

Messi breaking records

Messi made an impressive start to the tournament, scoring a hat-trick against Algeria, two goals against Austria, and a free-kick goal against Jordan. The Argentine star scored a total of 6 goals in the group stage, becoming the player with the most appearances in World Cup history, surpassing Miroslav Klose's goal record, and setting a new benchmark in total goal contributions.

Historic achievement from Ronaldo

Ronaldo, with two goals against Uzbekistan, became the first player to score in 6 different World Cup tournaments. The Portuguese superstar holds the records for the most goals scored and the most international appearances for his national team. He aims to extend this gap with his current performance.

The two players have faced each other 35 times at the club level, with most of these matches occurring in the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry. While Messi leads in the number of wins, the goals scored are equal.

Considering Messi is 38 and Ronaldo is 41, the 2026 World Cup could be the final act of one of the greatest rivalries in football history. If both teams reach the final, fans will have the chance to watch these two legends face off in an official World Cup match for the first time.

Messi and Ronaldo could face off in the 2026 World Cup final