World Cup a last dance for Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi, draped in the black-and-gold bisht – a traditional, formal Arab cloak – over his Argentina jersey, hoisting the World Cup trophy in Qatar. Cristiano Ronaldo, in tears as he made the walk down the tunnel after Morocco ended Portugal’s dream in the quarter-finals.

In 2022, it seemed like these would be the lasting images from the iconic duo’s final chapter at the World Cup.

Messi had confirmed Qatar would be his last. Ronaldo’s sombre exit felt like the closing note.

But four years later, the lights are back on and the disco ball is spinning, as the sport’s biggest stars prepare for one final tango.

History will also be made, as they will become the first players to appear in six different World Cups.

For over two decades, the Argentinian maestro and the Portuguese peacock have rewritten history for their respective nations.

Fans have been mesmerised by Messi’s magical left foot and his wizard-like abilities made him the centrepiece of Argentina’s modern golden age, culminating in the Copa America in 2021 and 2024 and the 2022 World Cup.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, combined athleticism, goal-scoring and a relentless competitive streak to elevate Portugal to unprecedented success, picking up the Euro 2016 title and UEFA Nations League trophies in 2019 and 2025.

Along the way, Team Messi and Team Ronaldo fans soaked up the duo’s rivalry, feeling blessed that the world has been gifted these two huge football talent.

But many believed the debate had finally been settled when Messi produced the perfect mic-drop moment of his career, guiding Argentina to World Cup triumph in Qatar and bringing home the trophy that had eluded his nation for 36 years.

But the lure of one last glorious curtain call has proven too tempting for Messi to resist.

After being named in Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man squad, he is returning to the global spotlight, in the United States, where he has played his club football since July 2023.

Messi told NBC news in October 2025 that “it’s something extraordinary to be able to be in a World Cup and I would love to”.

He added: “I’m really eager because it’s a World Cup. We’re coming off winning the last one and being able to defend it on the field again is spectacular because it’s always a dream to play with the national team.”

The Inter Miami attacker has personal history in his sights too – he is three goals away from matching Miroslav Klose’s World Cup record of 16.

Argentina’s campaign will begin against Group J opponents Algeria and Austria before they tackle Jordan three days after Messi’s 39th birthday.

Messi in 2026 may be physically different – he has picked up several injuries which have reduced his trademark explosive bursts – but Argentina coach Scaloni is still backing his prized asset.

“From a physical standpoint, things change, not only for Messi but for everyone,” said Scaloni.

“The fact that he has won (a World Cup) won’t change his ​innate competitiveness. But it’s true that it has given him complete fulfilment.

“There can be no doubting him now. He did it and from here on in, he can look at things with a fresh perspective.”

While Messi hopes for a happy encore, at 41, Ronaldo heads to the US searching for a special finale.

While he led Portugal to their only major trophy, he has prolonged his international career in the hope of clinching the ultimate prize.

The World Cup is one of few major trophies missing from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s cabinet.

At a Saudi-hosted global summit on tourism and investment in November 2025, Ronaldo said: “I gave everything for football. I’ve been in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything.

“I have many records in the different scenarios in the clubs and also in the national teams. I’m really proud. So let’s enjoy the moment, live the moment.”

Just as it was the case at the last tournament, questions will be raised about whether Portugal are better with or without Ronaldo – the record scorer in international football with 143 goals – in their starting XI.

Ronaldo will arrive in the US on the back of winning the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, in a campaign that saw him score 28 goals in 30 matches.

Ahead of the tournament, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez described his skipper as “a very important figure in the dressing room, as a captain, as somebody that represents what it means to play for the national team”.

But with a Portuguese side now brimming with attacking talent in their prime – including Paris Saint-Germain forward Goncalo Ramos, 24, Ronaldo’s 26-year-old club teammate Joao Felix, and AC Milan star Rafael Leao – opting to start Ronaldo up front is far from a straightforward decision and is certain to spark debate.

Portugal are in Group K alongside Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia and debutants Uzbekistan.

To add further spice to the Messi-Ronaldo debate, there is also potential for the first-ever World Cup meeting between the pair in the US.

Should Argentina and Portugal both win their groups and get past the round of 32 and 16, they could meet in the quarter-final on July 11 in Kansas City.

That is a dance-off, decades in the making, that no true football fan will miss. Both men have met on the pitch in La Liga and the Champions League, but never in their national jerseys in a competitive match.

Another superstar who will get a final chance on the World Cup dance floor is 34-year-old Neymar, who is a surprise call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.

Brazil’s all-time leading scorer missed much of the qualifying campaign but has returned as the Selecao pursue a record-extending sixth title.

Neymar, who has 79 international goals but has not featured for Brazil since 2023, has faced questions about his fitness and form following an injury-marred spell at Saudi side Al-Hilal and an underwhelming return to his boyhood club Santos in 2025.

He is currently recovering from a calf injury and is set to be available for their opening World Cup match.

And yet the clamour from Brazilian fans and players such as Casemiro for Neymar’s return shows just what the former Barcelona star still means to the Selecao.

At his peak, Neymar glided across the pitch and bamboozled full-backs but whether he – or his weathered legs – still have the rhythm for one final samba is the question.

Group-stage matches against Haiti, Morocco and Scotland will be the test for the ageing star.

Behind the headline acts, there are others who are also set for their swansongs.

Milan’s 40-year-old Luka Modric will be the veteran conductor for Croatia, setting the tempo and guiding his younger compatriots for possibly another fairy-tale run.

Croatia’s journey to the final at the 2018 edition in Russia was mainly inspired by Modric, who won the Golden Ball award.

While it is unlikely that Croatia and Modric could repeat their 2018 heroics, the chance to watch the veteran wizard in action on football’s biggest stage will undoubtedly evoke a mix of wistfulness and anticipation among fans.

Three former English Premier League stars – Belgium’s Kevin de Bruyne, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and South Korea’s Son Heung-min – deserve mentions too.

When the tournament ends, Salah and Son will be 34 and de Bruyne will be 35, although it is unclear if they will call time on their international careers then.

There are also others like Liverpool’s towering centre-back Virgil van Dijk, 34, who will look to move on from a disappointing club campaign and show that he can still hack it at this level with the Netherlands.

His former Reds teammate Sadio Mane, also 34, who has represented Senegal and the entire African continent with great pride, is also set for one final hurrah.

Senegal’s all-time top scorer Mane, with 55 goals in 127 appearances – who missed the last World Cup through injury – will hope to add to that tally and inspire his country to a deep run.

At this World Cup, the curtains may be coming down on some of the generation’s finest talent, but before their final bow, a fine show awaits.