Football icons Messi and Ronaldo preparing for sixth and final World Cup

[p]This will be the last dance for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo-cristiano/WGOY4FSt/"]Ronaldo[/a], who will become the first players to appear in six different World Cups, two decades on from their fresh-faced debuts at the finals.[/p][p]They have since become icons far beyond the football pitch, two of the most recognisable people on the planet as they head into middle age and contemplate retirement.[/p][p]Messi appeared to suggest that there would not be much point in carrying on after he skippered [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] to victory in Qatar.[/p][p][b]"Obviously, I wanted to finish my career with this. I can't ask for any more,"[/b] he said after dragging [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scaloni-lionel/A1A2ibcF/"]Lionel Scaloni[/a]'s side to victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] on penalties in that World Cup final in Doha.[/p][p][b]"My career is coming to an end because these are my final years. What more could there be after this?"[/b][/p][p]Plenty more, it turns out.[/p][p]Messi was in the middle of an underwhelming spell at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a] then, and six months later, he departed for Major League Soccer.[/p][p]There he is excelling with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Inter Miami[/a], with whom he won the MLS Cup last year.[/p][embed guid="a2f1e8d8-dcff-4dbd-b4a8-c567f72ca0d7" url="https://x.com/InterMiamiCF/status/2054738451610665103" social-type="twitter" /][p]He might no longer be playing at the very highest level every week, but he remains crucial for Argentina.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] legend captained his country to victory at the Copa America in the US in 2024, and was the top scorer in South American World Cup qualifying.[/p][p][b]"I love playing football, and I'm going to do it until I can't anymore,"[/b] he said recently.[/p][p]At one stage, there were some doubts as to whether he would play at another World Cup, a tournament he first graced in 2006, when aged 18, he scored in a 6-0 demolition of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/serbia/8Kl6iq0i/"]Serbia[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/montenegro/hOduZ1pN/"]Montenegro[/a] in Gelsenkirchen.[/p][h2]200 caps, goals record in sight[/h2][p][b]"I will do everything to make sure he is there,"[/b] insisted Scaloni, with Messi now just two games away from reaching 200 caps.[/p][p]He is set to add to his record of 26 appearances in World Cup matches, including their run to the 2014 final in Brazil.[/p][p]Messi has 13 World Cup goals, meaning [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/klose-miroslav/tO31cZrF/"]Miroslav Klose[/a]'s record of 16 is within striking distance, especially as Argentina's group opponents do not appear to be the toughest.[/p][p]They will begin against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/austria/naHiWdnt/"]Austria[/a] before tackling Jordan in Dallas, three days after Messi's 39th birthday.[/p][p]He has a couple of years on Ronaldo, but the 41-year-old Portuguese talisman was determined to carry his international career on in the hope of landing the ultimate prize.[/p][embed guid="ae88a7e5-0b02-4c71-b775-edb7121ca6c5" url="https://x.com/Cristiano/status/2054306161474556407" social-type="twitter" /][p]Ronaldo was a teenager when he lost the Euro 2004 final with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] on home soil, but he made up for that by captaining them to victory at Euro 2016.[/p][p]Yet the World Cup has proven harder, at least after Portugal got to the 2006 semi-finals.[/p][p]Portugal have won only one World Cup knockout match since, when they hammered [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/rHJ2vy1B/"]Switzerland[/a] 6-1 in 2022, with Ronaldo dropped to the bench.[/p][h2]'Exemplary commitment'[/h2][p]Roberto Martinez became coach after that and restored Ronaldo as the first-choice striker, which he remains despite not scoring at Euro 2024 when Portugal lost in the last eight.[/p][p]He is the most-capped men's player of all time with 226 international appearances, and the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]Manchester United[/a] superstar is now set to win the Saudi title with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/al-nassr/h4I89ZuE/"]Al Nassr[/a].[/p][p]Ronaldo confirmed recently that this would be his last World Cup, insisting: [b]"I'm going to be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment."[/b][/p][p]Portugal, who go into a group with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colombia/G02s4PCS/"]Colombia[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uzbekistan/0dx6MUbU/"]Uzbekistan[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]DR Congo[/a], are genuine contenders to win it even if there are doubts as to whether Ronaldo is holding back a talented squad.[/p][p]Personally, Ronaldo will be seeking to add to his eight World Cup goals and finally get a first in the knockout stages.[/p][p][b]"He is more than just a football player, but for the national team, that is all he is,"[/b] said Martinez in an interview with Portuguese broadcaster [i][b]RTP[/b][/i].[/p][p][b]"He is the captain and he shows exemplary commitment to his country. He is incredible."[/b][/p][p]Lifting the World Cup at 41 would be quite the way for Ronaldo to finish – and if both Portugal and Argentina top their groups, he and Messi would be on course to meet in the quarter-finals in Kansas City on July 11th.[/p]