The 16 Lucky Players To Have Played With Cristiano Ronaldo And Lionel Messi

Playing with one of the all-time greats is one thing but playing with two is absolutely next level - and only 16 players in history have been blessed to play in the same team as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

So far, the 'dream list' across the Portugal and Argentina national sides, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus of those who have had the pleasure and privilege of playing alongside the pair of legends.

Ahead of their meeting on the pitch in the Champions League tonight, here is an overview of those who have played with the two footballing titans:

Fernando Gago

Played with Ronaldo for three years at Real Madrid as well as Messi for the Argentina national team.

Gabriel Heinze

Was Ronaldo's teammate for three years at Manchester United and Messi's colleague for La Albiceleste.

Gerard Pique

Spent the first part of his career at United with Ronaldo as he was on the ascend to his first Ballon d'Or win and has been up and close and personal to see all six of Messi's prizes.

Andre Gomes

A slightly left-field member of the club, Gomes is captained by Ronaldo for Portugal and spent two years as Messi's teammate at Barcelona.

Angel Di Maria

Linked up superbly with Ronaldo at Real Madrid, winning the 2014 Champions League. Closing in on 100 caps for Argentina after making his national team bow two years after Messi.

Carlos Tevez

Ripped it up in the Premier League alongside Ronaldo and reached two Copa America finals for Argentina playing with Messi.

Paulo Dybala

Has spent four years in Messi's company in international football, in addition to two title-winning seasons with Ronaldo at Juventus.

Gonzalo Higuain

He too played in the same frontline as the two titans of world football and is a current teammate of the duo, having been kept on by Juve last season.

Henrik Larsson

Predominantly associated with Celtic, Larsson won the Champions League alongside a young Messi in 2006 and then the Premier League with Ronaldo after playing 13 games on loan at Manchester United a year later.

Nelson Semedo

Won back-to-back La Liga titles in the same Barcelona side as Messi and lifted the UEFA Nations League with Ronaldo a year ago.

Ezequiel Garay

Played two seasons with Ronaldo in Madrid and made his Argentina debut in 2007 before going on to play in a World Cup final with Messi seven years later.

Deco

Teamed up with Messi in his early days at Barcelona and represented Portugal alongside Ronaldo.

Martin Caceres

Won the 2009 Champions League alongside Messi against Ronaldo's United in Rome before becoming his teammate during his third spell at Juventus in January 2019.

Miralem Pjanic

Shared free-kick duties with Ronaldo at Juventus, where the pair won back-to-back Scudettos. Now colleagues with Messi at Barcelona under Ronald Koeman.

Arthur Melo

Lifted La Liga with Messi in Catalonia and then joined up with Ronaldo in Turin as part of a swap deal involving Pjanic.

Francisco Trincao

The 20-year-old linked up with both Messi and Ronaldo this year after sealing a dream move to Barcelona from Braga and then lining up with Ronaldo for the first time in a 0-0 draw between Portugal and Spain in October.

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Topics: Football News, Football, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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