What Could Make Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Play Together Before Retirement?
The two stars who defined the most intense rivalry in football history could finally be on the same team. Here’s everything you need to know.
The possibility of seeing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo playing together is once again shaking the football world. This time, the scenario would not involve a blockbuster transfer, a club’s financial effort or a new sporting challenge, but rather a special occasion: Carlos Tevez’s farewell match at La Bombonera, reportedly scheduled for December 2026.
TEVEZ’S FAREWELL COULD BE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY
According to reports from TyC Sports and ESPN, Carlos Tevez’s farewell match could provide the most realistic opportunity yet to achieve what has seemed impossible for years: seeing Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as teammates.
The former Boca Juniors striker is set to have his farewell match at La Bombonera after reaching an agreement with Juan Román Riquelme to use the iconic stadium. A definitive date has not yet been confirmed, although the weekends of December 12-13 or 19-20 are reportedly being considered.
The scale of the event could be extraordinary. Recent reports suggest that more than 60 football stars could be invited, with Messi and Cristiano among the names who could take part in the celebration.
Unlike previous attempts to bring the two superstars together, they would not need to belong to the same club. They would simply need permission to participate in an exhibition match and be available to travel to Argentina. La Bombonera would provide the perfect setting for what could become a historic night in football.
THEIR SCHEDULES ARE THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE
The main challenge would not be football-related, but logistical. Messi continues his career with Inter Miami, while Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Al-Nassr. Their schedules are tied to different competitions, making it difficult to coordinate their availability.
December could provide a favorable window, but there are no guarantees. The MLS season and the Saudi football calendar would have to allow both players to travel, rest and participate in Tevez’s farewell match.
That gives the event a major advantage over any potential transfer. It would only require a few hours of availability from two players, rather than a contract, an international transfer or negotiations between clubs.
Still, expectations must be managed carefully. Organizers have yet to confirm the date and, more importantly, the participation of the biggest stars.
PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO BRING MESSI AND CRISTIANO TOGETHER
The idea of seeing Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as teammates is nothing new. In recent years, Inter Miami emerged as one of the clubs that could potentially make it happen, particularly amid speculation about a possible move for Ronaldo to MLS. Some football figures, including René Meulensteen, have even suggested that the two superstars could complement each other on the pitch.
Al-Nassr has also been linked to speculation surrounding Messi, although no deal ever materialized that would have taken the Argentine to Saudi Arabia alongside Ronaldo. Manchester City was similarly connected at different times with attempts to sign both superstars, but none of those scenarios resulted in the pair becoming teammates.
Now, the situation is different. A club would not need to sign either player. A farewell match could provide the shortcut needed to fulfill a dream that the transfer market never managed to make a reality.
A HISTORIC RIVALRY COULD END WITH A HISTORIC PHOTO
For more than a decade, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were at the center of the most important individual rivalry in modern football. Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, goals, Champions League battles, Ballon d’Or awards and countless records turned every encounter into a global event.
They faced each other 36 times in official matches, with Messi holding the advantage with 16 victories compared to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 11, while nine matches ended in draws.
Their last official meeting came on December 8, 2020, when Juventus defeated Barcelona 3-0 at Camp Nou, with Ronaldo scoring twice.
Their final head-to-head encounter, including friendlies, came on January 19, 2023, when Paris Saint-Germain defeated Riyadh Season 5-4. Messi scored for the French side, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for the Saudi selection.
Since then, football fans have been waiting for one final image of the two legends together. This time, however, it could be completely different: Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the same side of the pitch.
If their schedules allow it, Carlos Tevez’s farewell match at La Bombonera could turn that fantasy into reality, bringing together two of the greatest players in football history as teammates for the first time.
