Lionnel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo have set aside retirement plans.

While Lionnel Messi has already helped his nation in securing a spot at the next year’s Global Showpiece, Christiano Ronaldo continues to lead his country’s charge for qualification. For Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the tournament to be contested on North America soil represents yet another major test in their storied careers rather than a swansong.

That state of affairs has been underscored in recent months, with both legends having announced fresh deals with their club sides. The Argentinian star has extended his Inter Miami contract until at least 2028, while Portugal’s talismanic forward has committed to Al Nassr until June 2027.

38 years old Messi appears to have found a happy place for this chapter in his life, with his desire for success remaining undiminished. Meanwhile, 40 years old Ronaldo would appear to be walking a parallel path. The grand narrative of the World Cup seems poised to weave these two titans into its story once again.

If the devastating duo feature in the competition that is set to take place in Canada, Mexico and the USA, they will be the only players to have strutted their stuff in six editions of the global extravaganza (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026), overtaking Mexico’s Antonio Carbajal (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962 and 1966), Rafael Marquez (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018), Andres Guardado (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022) and German great Lothar Matthaus (1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998) in the greatest show on earth.

Having showcased remarkable fitness and avoided serious injuries throughout their careers, both Messi and Ronaldo have kicked any imminent retirement plans firmly to the side, fuelled by their enduring love of the game. The pair are intent on savouring the moment, rather than rushing towards endings or choreographing goodbyes.

“I’ve always said that I base my decisions on how I feel physically and mentally on a day-to-day basis”, said Messi after signing his contract renewal. “The truth is, I’ve felt really good this year. I’m happy in Miami, and so is my family”.

Since moving stateside in July 2023, La Pulga has consistently shown just how influential he remains as an on-field force. He wasted no time in becoming the Herons’ all-time top scorer in the club’s seven-year history, and helped deliver their first pieces of silverware in the form of the MLS Supporters’ Shield and the Leagues Cup.

This season, Javier Mascherano’s side qualified for the play‑offs and harbour ambitions of capturing Major League Soccer’s ultimate prize. Messi also claimed the MLS Golden Boot and starred at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup, where he helped his team to progress from a group stage in which they faced stiff competition in the shape of Al Ahly, Palmeiras and Porto.

With Argentina having already booked their FIFA World Cup 26 berth courtesy of a standout CONMEBOL qualifying campaign in which they comfortably topped the continental standings, Messi finds himself on a far firmer footing than he may have envisioned in the months leading up to his nation’s triumph in Qatar, when he said: “I’ve said before that after this 2022 World Cup I’ll have to think a lot of things over and, right now, I’m not sure. I’m just focusing on this tournament, and then we’ll see what comes next”.

Messi has experienced plenty of ups and downs in the years that have passed between the last World Cup and the upcoming tournament, for which the draw is set to take place in Washington DC on 5 December.

He has reaffirmed his importance to Lionel Scaloni’s side, but has also suffered his share of fitness setbacks, like in the final of last year’s CONMEBOL Copa America, in which he was forced off midway through the second half, and injury ruled him out of the World Cup qualifying double-header against Uruguay and Brazil in March. The Albiceleste responded positively to his absence, ushering in a crop of emerging talents, such as Thiago Almada, Franco Mastantuono and Nico Paz, who slotted in seamlessly to the world champions’ set-up.

Ronaldo’s road –

“Since my first day here, I have been responsible for making a change not only at Al Nassr but in Saudi Arabia, and this is my goal”, said Ronaldo after committing his future to the Riyadh-based heavyweights. “Of course, my goal is always to win something important for Al Nassr. I still believe in that, and that’s why I renewed for two more years – because I believe I will be a champion in Saudi Arabia”.

When he had checked in at the club in December 2022, he hit the ground running. While team honours have so far eluded him in a league that is increasingly rich in star talent and investment, he has not let his own standards falter. In the 2023-24 season, he stormed to the top of the division’s scoring charts with an impressive 35 goal haul, which he followed up with 25 strikes last term to retain his crown.

The Madeira born marvel slipped a little down the pecking order in Fernando Santos’s squad at Qatar 2022. In fact, he found himself kicking his heels on the sidelines in several crunch clashes, including the round-of-16 showdown against Switzerland and the quarter-final bout against Morocco. Leaving Al Thumama Stadium with his head bowed after defeat to the African side, it looked very much like that would be his last dance in a national-team shirt.

But the prolific Portuguese wasn’t done just yet. Under Roberto Martinez, Ronaldo has once again taken centre stage. He played a key role in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League triumph in June, including getting his name on the scoresheet in the trophy decider against neighbours Spain, and he has been pivotal in his country’s qualifying campaign for next year’s event. Portugal sits atop Group F of the UEFA World Cup qualifiers with ten points to their name.

They were on the brink of clinching their place against Hungary last month in a contest in which a Ronaldo brace had put them in the ascendancy, only for a last-minute Dominik Szoboszlai strike to make it 2-2.

Attentions are now focused on next Thursday’s away assignment against the Republic of Ireland. A win would seal the deal for the Seleção das Quinas, while a draw would leave them hoping that Hungary fails to emerge victorious in their trip to Armenia. In the aforementioned meeting with the Hungarians, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United legend etched his name into the history books as the leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers, eclipsing the tally recorded by Guatemalan goal-getter Carlos Ruiz.

Messi and Ronaldo, whose names have been intertwined for the best part of two decades, have once again put the idea of hanging up their boots on hold. Fans of the beautiful game have reason to thank their lucky stars, with the dazzling duo set to continue sprinkling their magic dust over the global game for a little while yet.

Team Maverick