Messi vs Ronaldo in FIFA World Cup 2026 — Is Argentina v Portugal possible before the final?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 might just be the last dance of two if the greatest footballers of all time, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup title four years ago, will look to repeat history, this time in the United States of America.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo, who led Portugal to its first-ever international trophy in 2016 — the European Championship — will hope to get his hands on the coveted trophy at 40 in what is one of the very few titles that have eluded him in an otherwise illustrious career.
Can Messi and Ronaldo clash in the World Cup?
Yes, there are two scenarios through which Argentina will definitely meet Portugal in the World Cup. But for all of them, Messi and Co. will have to top their group – Group J – in the first round.
Scenario 1: Argentina tops Group J, Portugal tops Group K — Quarterfinals
Argentina and Portugal will then meet in the quarterfinals at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 11.
The stadium, primarily made for American football, is one of the 13 venues chosen for the World Cup, and will be converted into a soccer destination for a month.
Scenario 2: Argentina tops Group J, Portugal qualifies as a runner-up or one of the third-placed teams
Messi and Ronaldo will then lock horns in the World Cup semifinals on July 15 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
The venue is one of America’s busiest multi-purpose stadiums, having hosted a Super Bowl in 2019 and staged six matches of the FIFA Club World Cup, including the quarterfinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, earlier this year.
Published on Dec 06, 2025