Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been showing the football world what greatness is like for more than 20 years. They simply cannot quit making records and pursuing milestones even when they are approaching the last pages of their careers, from Messi’s MLS records to Ronaldo’s international goals record. And it looks like the upcoming FIFA World Cup will be no different, as the two legends look set to make one more record-breaking appearance.

Well, just recently, @touchlinex shared a post on X, saying, “If Messi and Ronaldo are fit and available for the 2026 World Cup, they will be the first two players to ever play in six World Cups.”  Both players have already participated in five World Cups, tying the record for most appearances in the tournament, alongside the likes of Lothar Matthäus and Gianluigi Buffon.

Messi has played in the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments, accumulating a record 26 appearances, the most by any player in World Cup history. Ronaldo has also featured in the same five tournaments, from 2006 to 2022.  The mere possibility of Lionel Messi and Ronaldo returning for 2026 has fans, analysts, and media buzzing with excitement. But will they? It looks likely.

Lionel Messi has returned to training with the Argentina national team and finished playing a friendly match against Puerto Rico at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium to prepare for the 2026 World Cup. The reigning World Champions showed their dominance with a commanding 6-0 win over Puerto Rico.

Messi did not score a goal, but he did provide two assists in the match: one for Gonzalo Montiel in the first half and the other for Lautaro Martinez in the second half. The two assists make Messi the only player to reach 60 assists in the history of international football. However, at the club level, Messi recently made MLS history by becoming the first player to record nine multi-goal matches in a single season during Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over Atlanta United.

Whereas Ronaldo is currently playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and is expected to start in their upcoming match against Al Fateh FC. He has been participating in training sessions with Al-Nassr ahead of the match.  During the October international break, Ronaldo scored twice against Hungary in a World Cup qualifier, bringing his total to 143 international goals.

Both players are in good form and have expressed their desire to participate in next year’s World Cup. As Ronaldo puts it, “We are thinking about the present and taking it one game at a time. Obviously, our goal is to go to the World Cup.” However, their participation will ultimately depend on national team selection, fitness, and form.

The only hurdle for Lionel Messi and Ronaldo’s 2026 dream

Earlier in the season, Lionel Messi missed a few matches due to a muscle strain, which isn’t unusual for a player at his age. His recovery was closely monitored by both Inter Miami and the Argentina national team.

Head coach Lionel Scaloni emphasized caution earlier this month, saying, “We will take a decision, we will see how he [Messi] and the rest of the players are. The idea is not to risk anyone… Whoever has a minor problem, whether it’s him or someone else, we are not going to take any risks whatsoever.”

Scaloni was quick to stress that Messi’s or any other Argentine player’s appearance during their friendlies wouldn’t come at the expense of their health. After all, no one knows better that the ultimate goal is next summer’s tournament.

Similarly, Ronaldo, at 40, faces the challenges with typical recovery issues and workloads that come with his age. In fact, the club has restricted his match appearances to only 75% of Al Nassr’s matches to maintain his current condition, while his strict training and eating habits and rest schedule enable him to stay vital for both his team and national team.

The regimen seems to be working, as Ronaldo scored two goals for Portugal during their 2-2 draw against Hungary, which brought his international goal count to 143. With the World Cup almost certainly Ronaldo’s last attempt to win a final international trophy, it’s only natural that all measures be taken to ensure he’s in good physical shape by next summer. With age comes increased risk of injury and the 2026 World Cup participation of Lionel Messi and Ronaldo depends on their ability to stay free of major injuries throughout the season.