Abuja, Nigeria: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are preparing to compete in their sixth World Cup tournament in North America during the 2026 season.
Okay News reports that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will become the first players to appear in six different World Cup finals.
Lionel Messi, aged 38, currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and led Argentina to victory at the Copa America in the United States in 2024. “I love playing football, and I’m going to do it until I can’t anymore,” Lionel Messi said. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said, “I will do everything to make sure he is there,” and noted the player is two games away from reaching 200 caps.
The Barcelona legend has scored 13 World Cup goals, leaving him three goals behind the record of 16 held by Miroslav Klose. Argentina is scheduled to play Algeria and Austria before facing Jordan in Dallas. That match will take place three days after the player’s 39th birthday.
Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 41, currently plays for Al Nassr and holds the record for the most capped men’s player with 226 international appearances. “I’m going to be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment,” Cristiano Ronaldo said regarding his retirement. Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said, “He is the captain and he shows exemplary commitment to his country. He is incredible.”
Portugal will enter a group with Colombia, Uzbekistan, and DR Congo. The team has won one World Cup knockout match since 2006, which was a 6-1 victory against Switzerland in 2022. Cristiano Ronaldo will seek to score his first goal in the knockout stages of the tournament during the 2026 event.
If Argentina and Portugal both finish at the top of their respective groups, the teams are scheduled to meet in the quarter-finals. The match would take place in Kansas City on July 11, 2026.
