Ronaldo: 'Awesome' if Messi and I face each other in the World Cup
After Portugal's 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, Cristiano Ronaldo said that a possible reunion with Lionel Messi at the FIFA World Cup 2026 would be 'awesome'.
Cristiano Ronaldo has described the prospect of meeting Lionel Messi at the FIFA World Cup 2026 as "awesome" — a scenario that could happen if Portugal's group finishes well.
Ronaldo's comments came after he scored in Portugal's 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, a victory that went a long way in edging their advance to the knockout stage. With those two goals, Ronaldo became the all-time leading scorer for Portugal in the World Cup with 10 goals, eclipsing Eusebio (nine). He became the second-oldest scorer in the tournament's history, surpassed only by Roger Milla in 1994 (age 42).
While mentioning the possibility of a Ronaldo–Messi showdown, the 41-year-old emphasized the importance of the team's immediate goals. "I don't know how to answer that, but, that will be awesome. The most important thing today is to win and advance, and we are ready for the next one," he said in the mixed zone.
On the other side of the competition, it was reported that Colombia has already clinched the place in the knockout stage after their 1-0 win against DR Congo. Portugal is on four points and has a +5 goal difference, and although they have a good chance of entering as one of the top third-placed teams, they will have to beat the leadership of Nestor Lorenzo (Colombia) if they want to grab the top spot in the group. According to the Opta supercomputer, Portugal has a 49% chance of taking first place compared to Colombia's 51%.
Should Portugal come out on top, they could potentially be set to face Argentina in the quarter-finals — a scenario that would put Ronaldo and Messi head-to-head in their sixth and likely final World Cup for both. Ronaldo and Messi have never met in any World Cup fixture till now.
Ronaldo was also hit with criticism after Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opener, but insisted there was unity within the camp. "The most important thing is the team, that we are united. We don't control what comes from outside. We know that when we don't win, we are criticized, especially me," he added.
When asked about Messi's scoring in the tournament and stars such as Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, Ronaldo responded briefly and did not elaborate.
The win against Uzbekistan and Ronaldo's personal milestones reinforced Portugal's desire to continue the campaign and prepare for the next challenge at the 2026 World Cup.
