Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi in World Cup 2026 Quarter Finals? How it can happen?

Messi’s Argentina are the reigning World Champions!

In what could be the most dramatic and fairy tale episodes in the history of football, there is a huge possibility that Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Lionel Messi’s Argentina will lock horns against each other in the upcoming edition of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are the reigning World Champions. As Peter Drury said, Lionel Messi, the little boy from Rosario, shook hands with paradise after winning the World Cup most dramatically in the finals against France. Scaloni’s men would leave no stone unturned to retain their international honours.

From winning the Euro, Nations League, UCL, Premier League, to some of the biggest honours in football, Cristiano Ronaldo has completed football, apart from the exception of winning the World Cup. Roberto Martinez-led Portugal are in sublime form and have the best chance of scripting a fairy-tale farewell for Ronaldo.

How can Ronaldo and Messi meet in the World Cup?

Argentina are drawn in Group J, whereas Portugal have been placed in Group K. If both Messi’s Argentina and Ronaldo’s Portugal win their respective groups and also win the subsequent knockout games of the Round of 32 and Round of 16, they are destined to meet each other at the FIFA World Cup Quarter Finals.

The Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City would be hosting one of the greatest and most-awaited fixtures ever in World Cup history. There is a huge possibility of this turning into a reality, but there are a lot of permutations, combinations, what-ifs and what-nots involved in this.

Portugal and Argentina’s possible road to quarter finals

Argentina have been drawn in a relatively easier group J alongside Austria, Jordan and Algeria. Portugal, on the other hand, is bound to face Colombia, Uzbekistan and either of Congo, Caledonia and Jamaica in their group stage fixtures.

There is a high possibility that both teams will end up topping their respective groups. In the Round of 32, Argentina will most likely face Uruguay, and Portugal will face either Ghana, Senegal or Turkiye.

In the Round of 16, Argentina might lock horns against either Iran or Australia. Portugal, on the other hand, will face Switzerland or Italy. Looking at the recent form of both teams, there is a very good chance of Messi and Ronaldo rubbing shoulders against each other in Kansas City.

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