Overview
- As of Friday, June 26, both Argentina and Portugal have qualified for the Round of 32 and now control key paths through the knockout bracket.
- Portugal’s final group match against Colombia is the clearest hinge for a Messi–Ronaldo quarterfinal because a Portugal win would place them in the same half of the draw as Argentina.
- If Portugal tops its group and both nations win their next two knockout games, the sides would meet in a quarterfinal scheduled for July 11 in Kansas City.
- Alternative results for Portugal would push any meeting to the semifinal, final, or make it impossible because group placings fix which half of the bracket each team occupies.
- The matchup carries extra weight because Messi is in strong scoring form, Ronaldo has regained momentum, the pair have met 36 times but only twice internationally, and this World Cup may be their last chance to face each other on football’s biggest stage.