No Messi vs Ronaldo At The World Cup? Portugal's Slip Has Likely Ended Football's Ultimate Dream

Last Updated:June 28, 2026, 11:31 IST

The possibility of a Messi v Ronaldo World Cup clash hasn't disappeared entirely. It just now requires two extraordinary campaigns to become reality.

For nearly two weeks, football fans dared to dream.

The FIFA World Cup bracket had aligned perfectly. If Argentina and Portugal both topped their respective groups, as most expected, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would finally meet on football’s biggest stage in a World Cup quarterfinal.

It would have been the 37th chapter of the greatest rivalry the sport has ever seen.

Then Portugal slipped.

A tense but frustrating 0-0 draw against Colombia on Saturday ensured Roberto Martínez’s side finished second in Group K, sending them to the opposite half of the knockout bracket and almost certainly ending hopes of a World Cup showdown between the two icons.

Now, only one scenario remains: Messi and Ronaldo can still meet — but only if both navigate the knockout rounds and reach the World Cup final on July 19.

The Quarterfinal That Wasn’t

Everything had fallen into place.

Argentina had done their job with ruthless efficiency. Lionel Scaloni’s side won all three group games, with Messi once again stealing the headlines by scoring five goals to secure top spot in Group J.

Portugal, however, stumbled when it mattered most.

After opening with a disappointing goalless draw against DR Congo, Portugal bounced back by thrashing Uzbekistan before another scoreless outing against Colombia condemned them to second place.

Instead of a favourable route that could have culminated in a quarterfinal against Argentina, Portugal now face a much tougher path.

They begin against Croatia in the Round of 32 and could run straight into European champions Spain in the Round of 16.

Argentina, meanwhile, take on surprise package Cape Verde.

One Last Dance?

Messi and Ronaldo have shared the pitch 36 times across club and international football.

Messi has won 16 of those encounters, Ronaldo 11, while the pair have produced an astonishing 43 goals between them in those meetings. Their last face-off came in an exhibition match in January 2023.

Given Messi is 39 and Ronaldo 41, this World Cup is widely expected to offer the final opportunity for the two legends to meet in a competitive setting.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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