The Ultimate Clash: A Look at Messi and Ronaldo’s Last Face-to-Face Battle

The World Cup in 2026 is set to be the stage for Lionel Messi (36) and Cristiano Ronaldo (38) to meet once again, marking the end of an era in football. This highly anticipated match will take place between Argentina and Portugal, respectively, and will be played in Riyadh as part of a mini-tournament called the Riyadh Season Cup.

The tournament will feature Inter Miami and Al-Nassr, with Al Hilal also participating. The exact schedule for the tournament will be announced later, but it will be played in a league format, with everyone playing against everyone.

Marcelo Brozović, a Croatian national team member who plays for Inter Miami, will directly be involved in this historic match between Messi and Ronaldo. If that game had taken place a few months earlier, Luka Modrić may have also been present as he is rumored to be considering joining one of the teams participating in the tournament as he considers his next career move. However, any decision regarding Modrić’s participation has yet to be made.

Messi and Ronaldo have already faced off 37 times on the field, with Messi slightly more successful (17-11 wins). Nine of their matches ended in a draw. Their last clash was particularly memorable when PSG defeated Al-Nassr and Al Hilal led by Ronaldo (5-4).

Despite their impressive records on the field, there is still much debate about who is truly greater between these two legendary footballers. Regardless of personal opinions, it is clear that this duo has transformed the sport and set new standards that are likely to stand for many years to come.