Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can face each other at the 2026 World Cup, and this is how

Jeremy Beren

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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can face each other at the 2026 World Cup, and this is how image

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As if things couldn't get better for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the new 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer could treat fans to one last matchup between global icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

On Friday, the final draw for the World Cup was held in Washington, D.C. The pathway for Messi's Argentina and Ronaldo's Portugal places both on a collision course to meet in the quarterfinals of the competition in Kansas City next July.

Ronaldo had incurred an automatic three-match suspension for a red card in a qualifying match against Ireland, but Infantino and FIFA controversially deferred two of the three games for which the Portugal captain would have been suspended.

This means Ronaldo will be eligible to play for Portugal right away in Group K -- which they are favored to win over Colombia, newcomers Uzbekistan and one of the teams from a playoff containing  Jamaica, New Caledonia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. If Portugal win the group, they will play a third-place group finisher in the round of 32 on July 3 in Kansas City.

Meanwhile, Argentina on Friday were drawn against Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J. The holders will be favored to emerge as group winners and play the runners-up in Group H (Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay). The Albiceleste then would need to win its round of 16 matchup in Atlanta on July 7 to reach the round of eight.

This will mark the sixth successive World Cup in which Messi and Ronaldo will both play -- and with both players entering the final years of their legendary careers, it is likely the last time they could meet in a World Cup match.

It very well could be that, for the first time ever, the 2026 World Cup brings fans this historic showdown for a place in the semifinals.

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Staff Writer