The upcoming World Cup will be a monumental one for plenty of reasons. But perhaps the biggest of those is that this summer will be the final time that both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo venture onto the storied global stage. And what better way to mark it than by breaking a record?
Messi and Ronaldo's Final Stand
Both Messi and Ronaldo will be playing at a record-breaking sixth World Cup in 2026, something no player has achieved before. And that will likely not be the only record they break this summer. CR7 already holds the record for scoring at the most World Cups, an honor he claimed when he scored against Ghana in 2022, the fifth separate tournament in which he has scored.
His longtime rival, meanwhile, can match Miroslav Klose’s all-time goals record of 16 if he finds the net three times across the course of this summer’s tournament.
Online betting sites feel that both are in with a chance of bowing out on top. Messi, of course, heads into the tournament as the defending champion after finally leading Argentina to glory in 2022. One can bet on sports at Bovada, and the American bookmaker prices the Albiceleste as an 8/1 shot to retain their title, with Ronaldo’s Portugal just behind at 11/1.
While the soon-to-be 39-year-old Messi and 41-year-old Ronaldo will be gracing the World Cup stage for one final time as grizzled veterans this summer, 20 years ago, that certainly wasn’t the case. Back in 2006, both men ventured onto the grandest stage the beautiful game has to offer for the very first time. But how did they fare in their respective World Cup debuts? Let’s take a look.
Teenage Messi's Bit-Part Role
The 2005/06 season was a breakthrough campaign for Lionel Messi at boyhood club Barcelona, scoring eight goals in his first season with the senior Blaugrana team. Injuries kept him sidelined throughout the latter part of the season, even causing him to miss the UEFA Champions League final victory against Arsenal in Paris.
He would recover in time to head to the World Cup with Argentina, though, despite being just 18 years old.
Messi would have to settle for a bit-part role in José Pekerman’s squad, with Juan Roman Riquelme and Hernan Crespo as the talisman. However, he would showcase his young brilliance off the bench in the Albiceleste’s second group game against Serbia and Montenegro. With Argentina already leading, Messi would be introduced in the 75th minute, going on to score and provide an assist in a thumping 6-0 win.
While Argentina shone in the group stage, their run would come to a screeching halt in the quarter-finals against hosts Germany. Pekerman would leave Messi on the bench for the entirety of the contest, and the manager would live to rue that decision as his side was eliminated in a penalty shootout.
Ronaldo Leads Portugal to the Brink
While Messi was still making his breakthrough in 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo was already on his way to becoming a proven commodity. He was already the main man at Manchester United, despite being just 21, netting 13 times as he helped inspire the Red Devils to Premier League glory. Internationally, CR7 had already flexed his muscles, leading Portugal to the final of Euro 2004, where they were shockingly beaten by rank outsiders Greece.
As soon as the 2006 World Cup got underway, Portugal immediately proved that they meant business. Luis Felipe Scolari managed a squad containing the likes of Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, and many more, and they breezed through the group stage with a perfect three wins from three. In the knockout round, the Quincunxes would have to prove their steel.
Portugal won an ill-tempered round-of-16 affair against the Netherlands, dubbed the “Battle of Nuremberg,” with referee Valentin Ivanov showing a record 16 yellow cards and four reds. The clash with England would also turn ugly, with Ronaldo taking center stage by playing a key role in the dismissal of Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney. With the Three Lions talisman given his marching orders, Portugal would win a penalty shootout with Ronaldo scoring the winner.
That set up Portugal’s first semifinal appearance since 1966, but unfortunately, they ran into a Zinedine Zidane determined to bow out from the beautiful game on top. The legendary midfielder confirmed that he would be retiring after the 2006 World Cup final, and he duly netted the penalty that sent Les Bleus to the final, eliminating Ronaldo and Portugal in the process. CR7 hasn’t made it that far since.
Italy Reign Supreme
In the end, neither Messi’s Argentina, Portugal’s Ronaldo, nor Zidane’s France would leave Berlin with the trophy. That honor went to Italy, who rode the wave of Fabio Cannavaro’s staunch defence to claim the title. But their triumph wasn’t without its controversy.
With the final between the Azzurri and Les Bleus deep into extra time, France captain Zidane would have a moment of madness, headbutting Italian center back Marco Materazzi square in the chest and receiving a red card for his troubles. The game would eventually go to a penalty shootout, with Italy securing the win after David Trezeguet’s spot kick rattled the crossbar. Zidane’s momentary head loss remains one of the most iconic images in World Cup history.