Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have not released official statements about playing at the 2026 World Cup. However, many think that both will be taking part in the upcoming championship. Argentina’s national team coach said that Messi wants to play next year, but the official decision will likely be made later. Messi didn’t make any public statements, leaving fans to wonder whether he will play one more World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo is also staying quiet about next year’s championship, but his club seems to give him a lot of rest next year. Is it to prepare and play at the World Cup? Possibly, but nothing is confirmed just yet.
Without the clear answers to questions every football fan wants to know, we are left to analyze and contemplate their next moves.
What Messi and Ronaldo Would Be Up Against?
World Cups are sprints inside a marathon. The 2026 edition stretches to a record 48 teams and 104 matches, with 12 groups of four and an added Round of 32. The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026. That means more travel, more minutes, and more recovery management than any previous men’s World Cup. For veteran players, that load might be too heavy to bear.
Age is the obvious issue. Messi was born on June 24, 1987; he would be 39 during the tournament. Ronaldo, born on February 5, 1985, would be 41. Their fitness, time spent on the field, and recovery windows would have to be thoroughly planned with extra time left to recuperate. Both players are disciplined and highly professional, but the two decades of intense training and matches have taken their toll. Fans who take part in soccer betting on Stake seem to disagree, since Argentina and Portugal are still ranking high on the list.
There are also unpredictable weather conditions. The World Cup is played in three countries: Canada, the United States and Mexico, starting on June 11th with the finals scheduled for July 29, 2026. A large number of matches are scheduled for afternoons, when the heat can be devastating in Mexico and the southern part of the US, especially for veteran players like Messi and Ronaldo. High temperatures might not be a deal breaker, but they will impact how and when the two superstars will play. For instance, minutes played will probably be reduced particularly in the first legs, with many additional breaks and lighter training loads.
Where Messi Stands Today?
Two points define Messi’s current position. First, there is no official retirement from World Cups. Second, the strongest recent public signal came from his national team coach. In January this year, Scaloni stated that Messi wants to play, but the World Cup is still a year and a half away to make any final predictions. In 2022, Messi gave us several hints that the World Cup in Qatar was probably his last, only to change the narrative as time went on. Last time Messi was asked about playing in 2026, he said that it depends on how he feels. Although this is not a confirmation, it still leaves the door open for fans to hope.
Argentinians are rooting for Messi to play since their country qualified early, a perk of being a world champion. This also allowed the coach to taper Messi’s time played, and manage his travel schedule.
On September 4th, Lionel Messi is set to play his final World Cup qualifier in Argentina, while four South American teams are still competing for the remaining automatic places at the 2026 tournament. The 38 year old Argentina captain will take to the pitch at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires to face Venezuela in what he describes as a very special match, with his family set to be in attendance, including his wife, children, parents and siblings. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters on Wednesday that it was going to be emotional, special and beautiful.
Role is another factor. Modern international football no longer asks a 39 year old to sprint the full 90 minutes every three days. The rules allow five rotations, and the coach is probably going to use some of those to get Messi some breaks during the match. What we can expect to see is Messi playing most of the time in the beginning, between 60 and 70 minutes, and taking over in crucial matches when the game needs more control and organization on the field. Plenty of time for Messi to make an impact, and yet avoid injuries.
All things considered, Scaloni’s statements and Messi’s change of heart in the past years, increase the chances that he will play in the 2026 World Cup. Fans are already fired up about the next championship, and are devotedly checking the odds at Stake, as well as news regarding the upcoming football championship. This only means that he will be part of the squad, but minutes played will be determined based on his fitness and ability to keep up with the rest of the team.
Where Ronaldo Stands Today?
Ronaldo has built his late career calendar around longevity. Twice in June 2025 he publicly deprioritized the Club World Cup in the U.S., emphasizing rest and the long season ahead after renewing with Al-Nassr. That is not a player preparing to wind down; that is a player budgeting energy for what matters most. For a man who already owns the all time men’s international goals record, one last World Cup is the most logical target left.
Portugal’s head coach Roberto Martinez praised Ronaldo’s fitness and ambition, saying that the team is going to be based on the most prepared players rather than on age. The national team also seems to be adapting to its superstar player with the roster of Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leão, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, Vitinha, and João Neves, who can give Ronaldo a lot of time on the field without overwhelming him. In this squad, Ronaldo can jump into his old role of attacker, or finisher, which is something many football players still dread.
The bottom line is that Ronaldo wants to play, he is physically fit and is already scheduling his matches to give himself ample time to recover for the World Cup. Besides devastating injury or a sudden drop in form, there is nothing that can stop him from taking another, last shot at that trophy.
Why the 2026 Format Favors Veteran Players
A “bigger World Cup” sounds like it must be harder for older legs, and some parts are. There will be more travel across time zones and a longer schedule than in 2018 or 2022. But two changes cut the other way. First, the permanent five substitution rule lets managers protect key players’ loads within games. Second, the expanded squads and the new Round of 32 affect tactical choices. Coaches can build a roster with specialists for certain game states, which is exactly where veterans with elite decision making earn their place. A 25 minute Ronaldo as a back post threat or a 30 minute Messi as a game controller is still among the most dangerous ideas in the sport.
High temperatures are going to require some heavy scheduling management. Experts are urging organizers to consider later kickoffs and many hydration breaks. FIFA is also taking notes on how to avoid heat strokes and exhaustion. Teams will surely arrive early to acclimate to new conditions, but there are still safety protocols that need to be respected, like rotations that give players time to recover away from the scorching sun.
Older players like Ronaldo and Messi are going to benefit greatly from new schedules and mandatory breathers. If this were not the case, it is likely that both star players would have a lot of trouble staying in the match, sprinting with 20 year olds, while grasping for air. The fatigue is surely going to be part of the 2026 World Cup, especially in Mexico in July, but FIFA along with scientists is working on finding the ideal formula for players to stay energized while not letting down the audience.
What Could Change the Outcome?
There are four real swing factors, none of which is sentiment.
The first is health. A muscular injury in spring 2026 is the most obvious spoiler. The good news is that both players, and their clubs, tend to build conservative return to play timelines. Their medical teams understand that the World Cup is one of the most important moments and will pace accordingly.
The second is form. Selection is still about what you can do now. Both men have adjusted their games to age. Messi relies more on tempo control with the highlight on the most effective movements with minimal effort. Ronaldo picked his spots in the box and refined his hold up and layoff patterns. If those modifications hold through 2026, form shouldn’t be a barrier. If they dip, managers will become more selective with roles and minutes.
The third is squad balance. Argentina won in 2022 relying on team effort rather than depending only on one player. That recipe carries forward. If Argentina’s midfield is sharp and the press is compact, Messi can play shorter bursts and still make an impact in matches. Portugal’s team is strong enough to mix and match around Ronaldo so that his strengths like penalty-box movement, aerial dominance, and penalty pressure, are maximized while others carry demanding sprints.
The fourth is the tournament system itself. A 48 team field changes how coaches manage risk. With more third place teams advancing, the group stage gives big nations slightly more margin for error than before. That makes it easier to manage minutes for older stars early and still arrive fresh for the knockout rounds.
How Their Roles Would Actually Look
Put aside the emotions, and look at their abilities without prejudice.
For Messi, build a schedule that emphasizes rhythm over volume between April and early June 2026. Further, pick friendly dates and travel windows that minimize fatigue. In tournament, you pin him to a clear load plan: start two group games with a pre agreed 60-70 minute cap, then minimize the minutes in the third game if qualification is safe, positioning him centrally to minimize defensive running. Assigning runners around him and giving him the freedom to puncture midfielders while protecting him from extended heat by targeting evening kickoffs and using the five sub rule aggressively, could be a winning ticket. Argentina can do this with their midfielders and forwards to do the running.
With Ronaldo, timing is everything. Putting him to finish the goal instead of sprinting while trying to fight off rivals might be too demanding. Others will do the running bit, while Ronaldo would be perfect for more directional, less stressed kicks. In some games he still starts, while in others he arrives at 60 minutes to attack tired back lines and to own penalties and late set pieces. The numbers say that it’s doable with a proper backup from his teammates, and Portugal’s coach will make sure that everyone knows their role. Again, five rotations will be used on Ronaldo most likely, in order to save his energy for the key moments.
A Realistic Expectation
If they both go, do not expect 630 minute tournaments. Expect carefully chosen starts, pre planned substitutions, and targeted minutes that line up with opponent profiles and kickoff conditions. Expect Messi to toggle between conductor and closer depending on game state. Expect Ronaldo to be a specialist starter in games where Portugal controls the field or a ruthless finisher off the bench when the game needs a box presence. Expect both to handle set pieces and penalties. Expect their leadership to matter when knockout football turns chaotic.
Above all, we can expect the conversation to keep shifting until squads are named. Official lists arrive late, and until then we can only analyze signals from coaches and players. However, it’s more likely than not that both Messi and Ronaldo will play at the 2026 World Cup. While holding our breath, the two seem to be preparing quietly. Messi left us hoping and wondering, while Ronaldo is discreetly managing his next year’s calendar. To sum up, if their bodies cooperate, the stage is set.