Messi holds the all-time men's FIFA World Cup games record, while Ronaldo is the closest active player who can catch him, four games behind. At the 2026 tournament, there will be a maximum of eight games for any players whose country reaches the final, assuming they feature in each match.

The sporting rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo goes back several years. Throughout their careers, they have been compared to each other, especially during the peri

Lionel Messi has been told the one reason why eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo is the GOAT, with Danny Simpson explaining that to GOAL during an exclusive interview. Premier League title winner Simpson worked with CR7 at Manchester United and considers him to boast unique qualities that separate him from any other player in history - including Argentine icon Messi.