When could Messi and Ronaldo face each other at the 2022 World Cup?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely regarded as the best players of all time. So how do we see them face off in a match at the 2022 World Cup?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely regarded as the best players of all time. So how do we see them face off in a match at the 2022 World Cup?
The two biggest stars in world football today are about to end their careers at the peak of their powers. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are arguably among the few superstars who can claim to be the best players of all time. It is clear that it is a difficult debate to come to a consensus on who is better. It is a matter of personal judgment.
Going into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, everyone realises that this will almost certainly be the last time either of the two global sensations will strut their stuff on the biggest international stage. And that has everyone excited at the prospect of the two facing each other in a specific match, as they did at their peak for Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga.
So how could Ronaldo's Portugal meet Messi's Argentina in Qatar? The two teams are in very different brackets. Argentina are in Group C while Portugal are in Group H. If both teams finish first or second in their groups, they cannot face each other until the final on December 18.
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However, if either team finishes second in the group stage, we could see this classic clash sooner rather than later. If the Albiceleste win Group C, they will face the runners-up in Group D (likely Australia). If Portugal finish second in Group H, Ronaldo's side will face the winners of Group G (likely title contenders Brazil).
If they overcome the above opponents, they will meet in the semi-finals. The possibility of meeting in the semi-finals is also possible if Argentina finishes second in Group C and Portugal wins Group H. In that case, Argentina will meet the winner of Group D, France. If Portugal finishes second in Group H, they will meet the winner of Group E (which could be one of the four teams: Spain, Japan, Costa Rica or Germany).
Of course, every neutral football fan would like to see Messi and Ronaldo face each other in the 2022 World Cup final. However, if they cannot, they can still play together in the same shirt as both Inter Miami and Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr Club are harboring ambitions to recruit both of them.
