Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi could be part of the same team for the first time as a shock plan has emerged.
Ronaldo, 40, and Messi, 37 are widely regarded as the two greatest footballers of all time and boast a total of 13 Ballon d’Or crowns between them – Ronaldo has five while Messi has eight.
And throughout their trophy-laden playing careers, no players have been compared as often as the duo – notably when Messi played for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid before the Portuguese left for Juventus in 2018.
In competitive matches, Messi leads the head-to-head record with 16 wins to Ronaldo’s 11, while there has also been nine draws.
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During matches in which both players have featured, Messi has netted 22 times while Ronaldo has scored one less with 21 goals.
The pair last played against each other on January 19, 2023, during a match between Riyadh All Stars and PSG.
Almost obviously, Messi scored while Ronaldo netted a brace in a 5-4 win for the Ligue 1 side.
Most fans thought this was the last time the pair would face off given the fact Messi now plays in the MLS for Inter Miami and Ronaldo represents Saudi Arabia-based Al-Nassr.
However, they may be set to reunite and could even be part of the same team as a stunning plan has emerged.
As reported by ESPN, the iconic duo could take part in Carlo Tevez’s farewell game in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
"Yes, I'm going to do it [farewell game],” Tevez told OLGA.
“I probably will do it. We just have to figure out when. It's not easy."
“Leo Messi, Cristiano… we’re going to bring them,” he added. “I’ll go get them myself. I have them saved in my WhatsApp.”
He also listed several of his former Manchester United and Juventus teammates when explaining who else could feature.
"(Edwin) Van der Sar on one side and (Gianluigi) Buffon on the other,” Tevez continued.
“At centre back, we’ll probably have Rio Ferdinand, (Nemanja) Vidic… we’ll bring in (Giorgio) Chiellini, (Leonardo) Bonucci. Patrice Evra, my brother, he has to be there. Midfielders… (Andrea) Pirlo, Paul Scholes, Roman (Riquelme) will definitely be there. Rooney."
Of course, Tevez, who retired from playing in 2022, played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United while he shared a dressing room with Messi for the Argentina national team.
Carlos Tevez settles Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi GOAT debate
Given the fact he is one of very few footballers to have played with both players, who does Tevez think is the best?
He gave his thoughts back in 2018.
"Cristiano is totally different to Messi,” Tevez told ESPN Argentina.
“When Leo was starting out, he didn’t touch a gym. But Cristiano was there in the morning, afternoon and evening, all the time.
“Cristiano had to work and prepare himself to be the best, while for Leo it comes naturally.
“Those are the greatest differences that I see between the two best players on the planet.
“Messi plays another sport.
“For Messi to score three goals [in any given game] is normal.”
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Football, Argentina, Inter Miami, Al Nassr
Luke Davies