Ronaldo and Messi kick off their World Cups with one last match potentially on the line

World CupRonaldo and Messi kick off their World Cups with one last match potentially on the lineThe tournament could offer one last chapter in soccer’s greatest individual rivalry if Argentina and Portugal advance deep enough.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleHere are the top players to watch in the World Cup04:11Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 16, 2026, 6:32 AM EDTBy Rohan NadkarniWhen Argentina plays Algeria on Tuesday and Portugal takes on Congo on Wednesday, two of soccer’s most storied players will begin what will likely be their last runs at the World Cup.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Argentina star Lionel Messi, 38, and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, defined soccer for much of the 21st century. Both are now in the twilight of their careers, and while there are certainly no guarantees, if both countries advance to the knockout stage, there could be one last match between the all-time greats.From 2008 to 2017, Messi and Ronaldo were the only two players to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or, widely considered the top individual prize in the sport. Over that period, each player won the award five times, with Messi winning the award three more times since.At the height of their careers, Messi and Ronaldo were not only battling for international supremacy, but also routinely faced each other at the club level. The two stars poured gasoline on the fiery rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga, with Messi starring for Barça from 2004 to 2021, while Ronaldo played for Los Blancos from 2009 to 2018.In 37 head-to-head matches (which includes a club friendly in 2023), the two players have been relatively equal individually, with both scoring 23 goals. Messi holds the advantage in wins, however, with a record of 17-11-9 in his career against Ronaldo.While the two were seemingly in an eternal battle for best player alive and perhaps...