Get ready for the ultimate showdown between two of the greatest footballers of all time, Lionel Messi (36) and Cristiano Ronaldo (38), as they face off for one last time at the World Cup in 2026. This historic match will take place on February 1st, 2024, in Riyadh as part of a mini-tournament called the Riyadh Season Cup. Joining them will be Inter Miami and Al-Nassr, with Al Hilal also participating.
The tournament will be played in a league format, with everyone facing off against each other. The exact schedule has not yet been announced, but fans can expect an intense battle between these two titans of the sport.
Marcelo Brozović, a Croatian national team member and Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammate, will be directly involved in this momentous occasion. If the match had taken place a few months later, Luka Modrić may have also joined in on the action. But only next summer will we see if their careers will continue to intertwine on the field.
Messi and Ronaldo have already faced off 37 times on the field, with Messi coming out slightly ahead (17-11 wins). However, nine matches ended in a draw, showing just how closely matched these two stars are. Their last clash saw Messi leading PSG to a thrilling 5-4 victory over Al-Nassr and Al Hilal, led by Ronaldo.
While there may never be an end to the debate about who is better between these two football giants, one thing is certain – they have both left an indelible mark on the sport and set boundaries that will be difficult to break in years to come.