When will Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo play each other at FIFA World Cup 2026? When could Argentina and Portugal meet in knockouts?
Updated 05/06/2026 at 14:39 GMT+1
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Twenty years on from their first FIFA World Cup appearances, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo look set to grace the grandest stage in international football once again.
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Since that summer in Germany, the duo have transformed from young men into undisputed living legends of the beautiful game, boasting 13 Ballon d’Or wins and nine UEFA Champions League triumphs between them.
Messi banished the demons of past failures by inspiring Argentina to victory at the World Cup in Qatar four years ago, but Ronaldo is still waiting to put the cherry on the cake of his illustrious career by inspiring Portugal to glory.
Both men will be eager to add to their impressive legacies when the tournament gets underway on June 11, but to do so, they will have to beat the best.
They may even have to go head-to-head in what would surely be one of the most iconic World Cup clashes of all time.
The TNT Sports World Cup Bracket Challenge has made it easier than ever to understand the complex structural pathways that will make up the new 48-team format.
The Challenge gives fans the chance to predict who they think will finish first, second, third and fourth in each group, as well as who will come out on top in each of the knockout stage matches.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at Argentina and Portugal’s route to World Cup glory, and see when Ronaldo and Messi could collide.
Who will Messi and Ronaldo play in the group stage?
Holders Argentina have been drawn into Group J, where there will be no easy matches for Messi and his team-mates.
Algeria have a talented squad, boasting the likes of five-time Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez as well as Luca Zidane, the son of another legend of the sport, Zinedine Zidane.
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Group J will also feature the habitually-tricky Austria, captained by Real Madrid’s David Alaba, as well as Jordan.
Ronaldo’s Group K rivals are arguably even tougher. Portugal will have to contend with a Colombia squad that features Luis Diaz, Daniel Munoz and Sporting CP’s highly-rated striker Luis Suarez.
They even have a World Cup legend of their own in the form of James Rodriguez, who will be hoping to replicate his heroics at the 2014 tournament.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo will not be an easy ride either, while Uzbekistan will be tough to break down with Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov at the back.
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When will Messi and Ronaldo play each other at the FIFA World Cup?
Their tough group-stage opponents mean Messi and Ronaldo could meet at several different rounds of the tournament, depending on where they finish in their respective tables.
If both sides finish top of their groups and win their round of 32 and round of 16 fixtures, then Portugal and Argentina will collide in a mouth-watering quarter-final.
They will also meet in the quarter-finals if both sides finish the group stage in second place before winning their subsequent knockout games.
Fans will be desperate to see the two legends face off, but that may not happen until the final if both sides finish third in their respective groups.
However, they could also meet in the round of 32, round of 16, quarter-finals or semi-finals, depending on where they rank among the third-place finishers.
If Argentina finish second and Portugal take first place - or vice-versa - then they will not meet until the final.
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Fans may also have to hope both teams reach the final if one of Portugal or Argentina end the group stage in top spot, and the other qualifies for the knockout stages as one of the best third-place finishers.
However, such a scenario could also mean they meet as early as the round of 32.
If one team finishes second in their group, and the other qualifies in third, then they could meet as early as the quarter-finals - again, depending on the third-place finisher rankings.
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