Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been long-time profession rivals, however a surprising flip of occasions might see them turn into teammates later this yr.
Ronaldo is out of contract at Al Nassr this summer season, which means he’s free to go away the Saudi Professional League membership on the finish of the season.
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No extension with the Saudi membership has been finalised and his deal continues to run down.
talkSPORT understands the 40-year-old might depart to signal for a Membership World Cup crew after which return to the Saudi Professional League.
There’s an expectation that he’ll re-sign with Al Nassr, however there’s a situation the place he pens a brief time period take care of a Membership World Cup crew first.
He then ends that contract and nonetheless goes again to Saudi Arabia and Al Nassr. So we would see a situation the place he is within the match.
Learn extra on Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi shall be on the blockbuster revamped Membership World Cup later this summer season, which runs from June 15 to July 13, as Inter Miami have certified.
Whereas there may be an assumption this is able to be to resume his rivalry with Messi taking part in for an additional crew, they may in reality find yourself as teammates.
Inter Miami are open to creating the pair teammates, although nothing is superior.
Ronaldo is ready to see if something materialises earlier than making a choice on his future.
It will be a outstanding flip of occasions if the 2 biggest gamers of their era turn into teammates for the primary time.
The pair dominated the Ballon d’Or because the oversaw a decade lengthy dominance because the award went backwards and forwards between them.
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They shared the pitch as fierce rivals for Actual Madrid and Barcelona once they have been each at their absolute peak.
The 2 went their separate methods with Ronaldo heading to Juventus, Manchester United, earlier than happening to the Saudi Professional League at Al Nassr.
His sights are firmly set on 1,000 profession targets, notching up his 929th throughout Portugal’s Nations League win over Denmark final weekend.
Messi, in the meantime, went to Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Barcelona earlier than heading to David Beckham’s MLS franchise Inter Miami.
They haven’t shared the pitch since January 2023 once they performed in an exhibition match between PSG and a Riyadh All-Star XI containing Ronaldo.
The pair have confronted one another 36 instances throughout their glittering careers, with Messi main with 16 wins to Ronaldo’s 11 – and an additional 9 attracts.
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Now, the Membership World Cup may very well be the place they flip their intense rivalry into a very new chapter.
The occasion is being held throughout america, with video games being performed in 12 completely different cities and stadiums.
There shall be 32 groups taking part in, which shall be cut up into eight teams of 4.
4 groups from Africa, 4 groups from Asia and 4 groups from North and Central America make up 12 of the edges concerned.
One other six will come from South America, one crew come from Oceania and one crew can even come from the host nation which is the USA.
The most important chunk of groups will come from Europe, with 12 collaborating.
A complete of £775m in prize cash shall be cut up throughout the 32 groups collaborating, with the successful banking £96.9m.
Membership World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, FC Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami
Group B: Paris St-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle Sounders
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland Metropolis, Boca Juniors, Benfica
Group D: Flamengo, Esperance Sportive de Tunisie, Chelsea, Membership Leon
Group E: River Plate, Urawa Crimson Diamonds, Monterrey, Inter Milan
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns
Group G: Manchester Metropolis, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus
Group H: Actual Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg