sports
🤔 Messi-Ronaldo classic ruined by Portugal draw
Key takeaways
- It was the game that was destined to break the internet: If both Argentina and Portugal won their groups as expected, then Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would meet in the World Cup quarterfinals.
- The pair have faced each other in competitive matches on 36 occasions in their illustrious careers.
- At the 2026 World Cup, the path was set for the pair to do battle perhaps for the last time, and for two weeks, it was a case of "so far, so good."
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Colombia (0:39)
It was the game that was destined to break the internet: If both Argentina and Portugal won their groups as expected, then Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi would meet in the World Cup quarterfinals.
The pair have faced each other in competitive matches on 36 occasions in their illustrious careers. Messi has won 16 of those games, scoring 22 goals; Ronaldo has won 11, scoring 21 goals. Their most recent encounter was in an exhibition match in January 2023 between Messi's Paris Saint-Germain and a Ronaldo-led team of Saudi Pro League all-stars.
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