{"id":29641,"date":"2024-01-31T12:55:39","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T17:55:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usa.businessupturn.com\/?p=29641"},"modified":"2024-01-31T12:55:39","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T17:55:39","slug":"will-ronaldo-face-messi-again-on-a-football-pitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.businessupturn.com\/usa\/will-ronaldo-face-messi-again-on-a-football-pitch\/29641\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Ronaldo face Messi again on a football pitch?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Riyadh Season Cup, featuring Al Nassr hosting Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, was anticipated as a showdown between two football legends, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Ronaldo\u2019s recent injury ruled him out of the game, leaving fans and organizers disappointed. The match was initially dubbed \u201cThe Last Dance,\u201d reminiscent of the epic Netflix documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls\u2019 final season and glory years.<\/p>\n<p>The exhibition match between a Riyadh Season Team, featuring Ronaldo, and Messi\u2019s then-club Paris Saint-Germain marked their 37th meeting. While it was possibly their last encounter, it is not definitively so. The scheduled match on February 1 was considered a potential farewell between the two football icons, but given their schedules and the lucrative nature of exhibition games, another matchup in the future is not out of the question.<\/p>\n<p>The era of guaranteed meetings in La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League came to an end when Ronaldo moved to Juventus in 2018. Their last competitive club encounter was on December 8, 2020, in a Champions League match where Ronaldo scored twice in Juventus\u2019 3-0 victory over Barcelona.<\/p>\n<p>Although the recent \u201cLast Dance\u201d was impossible due to Ronaldo\u2019s injury, the possibility of another matchup in the future remains open. Both Messi and Ronaldo are known for their incredible longevity, and they may continue participating in exhibition games. While the 2026 World Cup could be a fitting stage for a final showdown, with Messi turning 39 and Ronaldo into his fifth decade, their participation in the tournament is likely, making it a potential platform for an Argentina vs. Portugal matchup.<\/p>\n<p>In total, Messi and Ronaldo have met 34 times in club competitions, with the majority of these encounters taking place in El Clasico. They have faced each other twice in international friendlies, with each team winning once. A competitive fixture between their national teams remains a hope for the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"table-container\">\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"1\" cellpadding=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\"><strong>Date<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\"><strong>Competition<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\"><strong>Match<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\"><strong>Result<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\"><strong>Messi<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\"><strong>Ronaldo<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jan. 19. 2023<\/td>\n<td>Exhibition<\/td>\n<td>Riyadh Season Team \u2013 PSG<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">4-5<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td>2 goals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Dec. 8, 2020<\/td>\n<td>Champions League<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Juventus<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">0-3<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>2 goals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>May 6, 2018<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-2<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Dec. 23, 2017<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">0-3<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>1 goal, 1 assist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aug. 13, 2017<\/td>\n<td>Supercopa<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-3<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apr. 23, 2017<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-3<\/td>\n<td>2 goals<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Dec. 3, 2016<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-1<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apr. 2, 2016<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-2<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nov. 21, 2015<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">0-4<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mar. 22, 2015<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-1<\/td>\n<td>1 assist<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nov. 18, 2014<\/td>\n<td>Int. friendly<\/td>\n<td>Argentina \u2013 Portugal<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">0-1<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Oct. 25, 2014<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">3-1<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mar. 23, 2014<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">3-4<\/td>\n<td>3 goals<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Oct. 26, 2013<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-1<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>1 assist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mar. 2, 2013<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-1<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Feb. 26, 2013<\/td>\n<td>Copa del Rey<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-3<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>2 goals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jan. 30, 2013<\/td>\n<td>Copa del Rey<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-1<\/td>\n<td>1 assist<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Oct. 7, 2012<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-2<\/td>\n<td>2 goals<\/td>\n<td>2 goals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aug. 29, 2012<\/td>\n<td>Supercopa<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-1<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aug. 22, 2012<\/td>\n<td>Supercopa<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">3-2<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apr. 21, 2012<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-2<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jan. 25, 2012<\/td>\n<td>Copa del Rey<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-2<\/td>\n<td>1 assist<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jan. 18, 2012<\/td>\n<td>Copa del Rey<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-2<\/td>\n<td>1 assist<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Dec. 10, 2011<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-3<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>1 assist<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aug. 17, 2011<\/td>\n<td>Supercopa<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">3-2<\/td>\n<td>2 goals, 1 assist<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Aug. 14, 2011<\/td>\n<td>Supercopa<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-2<\/td>\n<td>1 goal, 1 assist<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>May 3, 2011<\/td>\n<td>Champions League<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-1<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apr. 27, 2011<\/td>\n<td>Champions League<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">0-2<\/td>\n<td>2 goals<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apr. 20, 2011<\/td>\n<td>Copa del Rey<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid (Neutral Stadium)<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">0-1<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apr. 16, 2011<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-1<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Feb, 9, 2011<\/td>\n<td>Int. friendly<\/td>\n<td>Argentina \u2013 Portugal<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-1<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nov. 29, 2010<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">5-0<\/td>\n<td>2 assists<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apr. 10, 2010<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Real Madrid \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">0-2<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nov. 29, 2009<\/td>\n<td>La Liga<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Real Madrid<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-0<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>May 27, 2009<\/td>\n<td>Champions League<\/td>\n<td>Man United \u2013 Barcelona (Neutral)<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">2-0<\/td>\n<td>1 goal<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apr. 29, 2008<\/td>\n<td>Champions League<\/td>\n<td>Man United \u2013 Barcelona<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">1-0<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apr. 23, 2008<\/td>\n<td>Champions League<\/td>\n<td>Barcelona \u2013 Man United<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">0-0<\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\">\u2014<\/td>\n<td>(1 missed penalty)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>TOTAL<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\"><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\"><strong>18 wins<br \/>\n24 goals<\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"text-align-center\"><strong>12 wins<br \/>\n24 goals<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"oddsServeCreative\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-ads\">\n<div id=\"ad-Inarticle1\" class=\"article-ads__mobile\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"ad-Inarticle2\" class=\"article-ads__mobile\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zephr-feature_outbrain\">\n<div class=\"ob-smartfeed-wrapper feedIdx-0\">\n<div id=\"outbrain_widget_0\" class=\"OUTBRAIN\" 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