Messi and Ronaldo have both said, in their own words, that the end for them is close. Soon, it’ll be the end of a comparison era. Who’s better: Messi or Ronaldo? Who’s scored more goals, who’s had more assists, who’s worth more, etc.
But what are they both going to do afterward? Will they still be compared to one another like now?
In Their Own Words
Ronaldo, without question, is the blunter of the two. In November 2025, he said he would retire “really soon”, adding, “probably one, two years I’ll still be in the game”. Before the 2026 World Cup, he also mentioned that this would be his last tournament.
Messi, on the other hand, just signed an Inter Miami extension through 2028, which was announced on October 23, 2025. After Argentina’s World Cup final defeat against Spain, he also said, “I’m not thinking about that right now” when asked about retirement.
Already Underway
While still playing, Messi has moved into ownership. He bought Cornellà, a lower-league club near Barcelona, in April 2026 and completed the purchase of second-division CD Eldense on October 1, 2026.
Ronaldo is reported to be lining up a 15% stake in Al Nassr, valued at around $50 million. Reports suggest that he had strong ambitions to become the club’s majority owner as well, which is exciting.
Where the Serious Revenue Could Come From
Running clubs would be the most obvious route for both players, and they have the reputation to get in with a decent club right away. Both players could easily manage a lower first-division Spanish club or a second-division Spanish club.
We’re sure they’ll continue with their own brands and media as well. Ronaldo has already laid more than the foundation for this. Bloomberg even valued him at $1.4 billion, making him football’s first-ever billionaire with endorsements, the Pestana CR7 hotel chain, a gym franchise, and more.
Name and image licensing could also be something for both players. We’ve seen many players license their name in exchange for a lump sum of money or royalties, depending on the deal structure.
One good example of this is Roberto Carlos. He has licensed his name to Playtech, a slot studio, which created Roberto Carlos: Sporting Legends, a slot that many UK bingo sites now offer. Such deals will enable players to get paid for their image; all they have to do is approve the game and collect royalties.
While both players have more than enough money, they’ll likely want to take advantage of their image to continue to generate revenue. What option they’ll take, though, will depend on their goals.
Two Different Exits
Both players have had an incredible career and have built a bulletproof name for themselves. Therefore, it doesn’t matter what they get into next; most opportunities will be open to them.
What they’ll do, however, remains a bit of a mystery. Messi’s exit points to club ownership and Ronaldo's to his brands. These directions seem suitable for both, especially with what they have already built.