Time is running out for Messi and Ronaldo to become team-mates, but could it happen?

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 7 Nov 2025 04:17 CST
• 5 min read

Nieuws

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the greatest footballers in history and many fans consider the pair to be the very best ever to play the game.

They have been perennial rivals throughout their careers, with comparisons constantly made over the last two decades.

Whether it be performances on the pitch, goal tallies, trophy hauls or even Ballon d'Or wins, their careers have been intrinsically linked.

Ronaldo started his career at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. It was there he was his first Ballon d'Or before completing a world-record transfer to Real Madrid, where he would become the greatest goalscorer the game has ever seen.

Multiple league titles and numerous Champions League wins came thereafter, though he left under a bit of a cloud to sign for Juventus. CR7 spent a couple of seasons in Turin before completing a surprise return to Man Utd, but after a falling out with then-manager Erik ten Hag, he made his way to Al-Nassr.

As for Messi, everyone thought he would be a one-club man at Barcelona, but the desperate finances of the Catalan side meant that they could no longer afford to register the Argentina as a player, which led to a spectacular free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

He is now in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, with both players in the twilight of their careers.

Ronaldo and Messi as team-mates?

Both players recently signed new contracts at Inter Miami and Al-Nassr respectively.

Messi's deal at Miami runs until 2028, while Ronaldo's at Al-Nassr runs until 2027.

That will likely be Messi's last year as a professional footballer, so is there a chance we could see Cristiano move to Major League Soccer with Miami teaming the two GOATs in the same team?

One former Manchester United coach believes so.

"Can you imagine having Messi and Ronaldo playing in the same team in Miami? It’s a fantastic city. I think he would love to go there," Rene Meulensteen told Comparebet.com.

Meulensteen also thinks its a possibility that Ronaldo could join a league rival such as LAFC or Los Angeles Galaxy to reignite the feud for one last year.

"On the contrary, it would be amazing to reignite the Messi and Ronaldo rivalry. Why not Los Angeles? I think Cristiano would probably move to LA because he'd be so close to Hollywood. That's probably his next destination," the Dutchman continued.

"MLS has really taken off because they've got a soccer generation. There are kids and adults that are going to the stadiums now who grew up playing soccer, watching soccer. They're not really interested in baseball or American football and basketball.

"I think that’s the battle soccer has won in America, and that I've always advocated, it has come from not fighting those other sports. There's no reason for it. You need to try to find a place next to it. And they have.

"I don’t think Ronaldo would be interested in a move to Brazil. The language is the same but I think he would be drawn to MLS because of the exposure and everything that would come with it. You can't beat Hollywood."

One thing is for sure - we are running out of time to see Messi and Ronaldo as team-mates - but do they even want such a union?

Messi's greatest Clasico moments

Never was the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo more heated than during El Clasico when Barcelona faced Real Madrid.

The pair lit up the Clasio with numerous magical moments.

Let's pick two for each player.

In the 2011 Champions League semi, we not only had Messi versus Ronaldo, but Pep Guardiola versus Jose Mourinho.

There was no love lost between the pair and the tensions spilled onto the pitch. Pushing and shoving contests were commonplace and of course Pepe got in on the act with a red card for a dangerous high foot on Dani Alves.

Messi was only interested in the football and he took the game by the scruff of the neck to score two goals for the 2-0 Barca victory.

The first was a smart finish at the near post but the second is the stuff of legend.

Sergio Busquets' assist for one of the greatest Clasico goals ever was a pass less than a yard, as he laid the ball off to Messi for the Argentine to embark on a slaloming run, leaving defender after defender for dead before slotting a strike into the corner with his weaker right foot.

For the second moment, we'll choose something even more iconic.

Heading into a 2017 Clasico, Real Madrid were three points ahead of Barca in La Liga with a game in hand. With 32 fixtures played up until that point, it became somewhat of a must-win for the Blaugrana.

With 91 minutes on the clock Madrid, with 10 men, were settling for the draw - but not Barca. With 30 seconds to go, the visitors ghosted up the pitch with the ball eventually finding Jordi Alba deep down the left wing. He passes inwards to Messi who lashes a left-footed strike into the corner as Barcelona went 3-2 up.

After Messi scored, he pulled off his shirt, turned it around so that 'Messi 10' was facing the furious Santiago Bernabeu crowd.

Ronaldo's greatest Clasico moments

In the 2011 Copa del Rey final the pressure was on Real Madrid and particularly on Mourinho. Earlier in the season they were humbled 5-0 by Barca in what was probably the best display from a team in the history of the fixture.

Revenge was on the cards in the cup and Ronaldo took it upon himself to emerge as the match winner with a towering header at the back post.

It was a turning point for Mourinho and his side as Barca could now be beaten and that levitating header was just vintage CR7.

For moment two, it's another celebration.

There must be no better feeling as a footballer than silencing a crowd that has been giving you stick all game.

Messi did it above, but a particular Ronaldo celebration was electric in a different way.

In a 2012 La Liga fixture, the Portuguese superstar rattled in a signature finish to allow Madrid to win 2-1 at Camp Nou, taking a major step towards the title.

After his finish, Ronaldo told the raucous Camp Nou crowd to calm down with a confident calming hand gesture.

It was CR7 at his confident, arrogant best.