Both stars could face each other through various paths in the tournament knockout bracket. A meeting may arrive as early as the Round of 16, or it could come later depending on how each side progresses through the bracket.
The same scenario could extend deeper into the tournament, with a potential clash possible all the way through to the final. Nothing is set until qualification and the draw play out, but the 2026 World Cup remains one stage where Messi and Ronaldo could still cross paths on the international level.
