Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: How Argentina and Portugal could face each other at the World Cup

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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to dominate the headlines, with the legendary duo potentially facing off at this summer’s World Cup after Argentina and Portugal reached the knockout stages.

Below we take a look at how Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could potentially face off at this summer’s World Cup…

Soccer fans were dealt a small blow as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal drew 0-0 with Colombia in the final Group K match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This result confirmed Portugal as runners-up and moved them to the opposite side of Argentina in the final tournament spot. Previously, the long-awaited matchup between Messi and Ronaldo in the quarter-finals could have materialized if both countries had won their respective groups. However, with Argentina safely securing top spot in Group J, the two rival teams are now mathematically unable to meet each other in the early stages of the tournament. With Portugal in second place, this iconic forward duo can only meet if both teams qualify for the World Cup finals. This development significantly reduces the mathematical possibility of witnessing another historic Messi vs. Ronaldo international showdown. Considering the high level of other elite candidates, the road to the final will be very tough for both sides. With powerhouses such as France, England, Brazil and the Netherlands all leading the group, the road ahead is difficult, but not entirely impossible. Portugal’s single-elimination tournament journey is scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 2, 2026 at Toronto Stadium. In this Round of 32 encounter, Ronaldo’s side will face a tough European hurdle against Croatia. The difficulty of the competition will quickly escalate if Portugal advances by defeating Croatia, leading to a blockbuster round of 16 scheduled for July 6 in Dallas. The most likely opponent will be Group H winners Spain, assuming the Spanish team defeats the Group J runners-up. If Portugal defeats Spain, they will advance to the all-or-nothing quarter-finals. In this round, they will face the final surviving team, either England or America. A win in the quarter-finals will give Portugal a place in the ultimate match, taking part in the semi-finals on July 14 in Dallas. The final hurdle before the final will probably be against modern powerhouses such as Germany, the Netherlands, and France. Meanwhile, Argentina’s title defense will resume on Friday, July 3, 2026, when they will face Cape Verde in Miami in the round of 32. If Lionel Scaloni’s side advance, they will face the winner of Australia vs. Egypt in the round of 16. Argentina’s expected quarter-final hurdles suggest they will face powerhouses such as Colombia, Switzerland and Iran. If they can overcome this challenge, they will be able to advance to the semi-finals, where they are expected to face elite opponents such as France and the Netherlands as the final hurdle before the final.