CAMP NOU, BARCELONA, SPAIN – 2020/12/08: Cristiano Ronaldo (L) of Juventus FC is challenged by … More
Just imagine Lionel Messi vs. Ronaldo Cristiano, one more time.
We can dream, can’t we?
The likelihood of that happening probably is a longshot.
A few dominos would need to fall the right way to make it happen.
First of all, the 40-year-old Portuguese superstar would need to sign with one of the 32 teams in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, and then either play Messi’s Inter Miami CF team in the group stage or in the knockout round.
Like we said, a longshot.
There is a nightmare scenario that FIFA faces if any 11th-hour signing, especially Ronaldo’s, is not not correctly.
It appears Ronaldo’s days with Al-Nassr, are numbered. He has been in contract negotiations with his Saudi Arabian club for months, but they apparently have gone nowhere.
On Monday night, Ronaldo indicated that he was finished with Al-Nassr, for whom he has played since 2022.
“This chapter is over,” he said on social media. “The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.”
His contract with the club runs through the end of June.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 03: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after scoring the third … More
Special transfer window
That’s where FIFA comes in.
Soccer’s worldwide governing body has created a special transfer window runs June 1-10, which allows the 32 Club World Cup teams to sign players prior to the competition. Al-Nassr did not qualify for the tournament, but Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal has. As it turns out, Al Hilal kicks off the tournament against Inter Miami CF and Messi on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on June 14.
A European club is unlikely to fork over millions of dollars for a 40-year-old striker.
In a perfect world, Ronaldo would sign with Al Hilal and play against Messi. The big question is whether Al Hilal would want to sign the prolific forward, who led the Saudi Pro League with 24 goals this past season.
Interestingly, Al Hilal has been mentioned as one of four potential landing spots for Ronaldo.
According to The Telegraph newspaper in England, Ronaldo’s potential clubs in the tournament are among Wydad (Morocco), Monterrey (Mexico), Botafogo (Brazil) and the Saudi Arabian side.
Even FIFA President Gianni Infantino has speculated about Ronaldo competing in the Club World Cup, saying that “there are discussions.”
In an interview with IShowSpeed last week, Infantino spoke about the possibility of Ronaldo performing in the competition.
“And Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup,” he added. “There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup. … Who knows, who knows?”
Again, the dominos must fall perfectly for that to happen, particularly for Ronaldo to take on Messi’s team.
Few, if any other soccer superstars, have been able to attract that much attention when their teams have clashed.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 19: Leo Messi of Paris Saint-Germain and Cristiano Ronaldo of Ruyadh … More
The greatest rivalry
For years, we were blessed by having the world’s two best players in the world performing in the same league, Spain’s La Liga; Messi with Barcelona and Ronaldo with Real Madrid. Both standouts were complemented by a myriad of talented players. Games were must-see viewing for the drama and entertainment, especially as those two stars’ reputations grew.
They met 30 times in Spain’s El Clasico, with Messi enjoying a 14-8-8 advantage.
In all-time matchups, the Argentine international also leads his Portuguese rival with a 17-11-9 mark, according to /www.elfutbolero.us at
https://www.elfutbolero.us/news/lionel-messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-a-legendary-rivalry-in-numbers-20250107-47491.html
According to the website: Messi has accrued 23 goals and assisted on 12 others, Ronaldo has scored 23 goals and recorded one assist.
If Ronaldo and Messi can play one more time, it would be a dream matchup for many soccer fans, even at the players’ advanced sporting ages. Messi is no spring chicken himself, turning 38 on June 24.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 25: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami celebrates after scoring the … More
There’s still some magic left
But both still have enough soccer magic in their feet left to dazzle fans when their respective teams needed them the most.
Case in point:
On May 24, Messi’s late free kick ignited Inter Miami CF’s comeback from a 3-1 deficit for the visitors to record a 3-3 draw with the first-place Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer Eastern Conference action.
There is, however, also a nightmare scenario to the Portuguese international’s potential signing with a team for the Club World Cup.
What if Ronaldo inks a contract with a team just for the duration of the tournament?
How would that look for FIFA?
How would that affect the integrity of the competition? Would it tarnish it? Would it set an ugly precedent?
Teams adding gun-for-hire players just for the tourney certainly would not be a good look, especially for a high-profile FIFA competition that is a year prior to its pride and joy, the World Cup.
We’ll just have to wait until June 10 to see how all this unravels.
