Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, after five failed attempts, could meet in a World Cup match for the first time in their careers, if there are no surprises during the group stage, in the quarterfinals of the edition to be played between June 11 and July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Planet soccer will have one last chance to witness the duel of duels that many are waiting for and that for the last time, in a final dance of Cristiano (40 years old) and Messi (38), could happen. It will depend on the performance of their two teams, Portugal and Argentina, who have failed to meet in the five World Cups they have played in.
The possible paths towards a Cristiano vs Messi
Dona y cambia vidas
Tu donativo brinda terapias, esperanza y un futuro sin límites a niños con discapacidad. Haz la diferencia hoy.
If both teams manage to finish the group stage in first place, they will meet in the quarterfinals to be played in Kansas City on July 11.
Portugal is drawn in Group K with Uzbekistan, Colombia and one of the winners of the international play-offs (New Caledonia, Jamaica or Democratic Republic of Congo).
While Argentina will play in the J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
In the event of a surprise, the meeting between Cristiano and Messi could take place earlier.
If Portugal finishes first in their group and Argentina as one of the best third-placed teams, they could meet in the Round of 16 on July 3 in Kansas City.
Should both finish second, and provided they advance past the Round of 16, they would meet in the Round of 16 on July 6 in Dallas.
And if Argentina comes first in the group and Portugal comes second, a Cristiano-Messi duel would not take place until the final.
A crossover that always eludes us
Throughout history, the World Cups have been capricious and have not left for memory an encounter between Cristiano and Messi.
In the first one in which both took part, Germany 2006, they could only have met in the final.
It was not possible, because Argentina was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Germany in a penalty shootout and Portugal in the semifinals by France (0-1).
In South Africa 2010, the Cristiano-Messi duel could have come in the semifinals.
However, Spain crossed Portugal’s path in the round of 16 and Argentina was eliminated by Germany in the quarterfinals.
In Brazil 2014, the Portuguese team’s hecatomb in the group stage prevented a possible duel in the quarterfinals of a World Cup in which the Albiceleste reached the final, losing to Germany.
Duel that the World Cup keeps postponing
Russia 2018 was the edition in which the two players came closest to meeting in a World Cup.
Qualified for the round of 16, if Portugal and Argentina had advanced, Cristiano and Messi would have faced each other in the quarterfinals.
However, Uruguay and France again avoided a duel between the two stars.
And in Qatar 2022, the final was the only match in which Cristiano and Messi would have crossed paths.
However, even though Argentina made it to the final and beat France, Portugal was eliminated by Morocco in the quarterfinals.
If there are no surprises of any kind and neither team fails in the group stage, we will have to wait until the quarterfinals to see if, at the sixth opportunity, the two historic rivals finally meet in one of the most eagerly awaited duels of the World Cup.
With information from EFE
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