Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Evan Lloyd

Fri 28 November 2025 7:15, UK

Cristiano Ronaldo will play in Portugal’s World Cup opening games, despite receiving a straight red card for violent conduct against Ireland during the international break.

FIFA have reduced Ronaldo’s ban to just one game instead of the usual three, allowing the forward to appear at the World Cup after serving his ban against Armenia.

The 40-year-old was given his marching orders after the video assistant referee caught him elbowing Ipswich Town defender Dara O’Shea.

FIFA have been accused of showing favouritism towards Ronaldo, with the decision likely taken with viewership figures in mind.

Nevertheless, the decision will ensure that both Lionel Messi and Ronaldo will be present at next year’s World Cup, with the former having a lot to say about the latter.

Lionel Messi full of respect for Cristiano Ronaldo

Messi and Ronaldo have shared an extraordinary rivalry throughout their career, with both players constantly setting new standards for footballers in general.

With the former at Barcelona, and the latter at Real Madrid, the pair constantly jostled for Ballon d’Ors and Champions Leagues.

With Ronaldo now in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, and Messi with Inter Miami in the MLS, the rivalry has cooled, but it can be expected to blow up again at the World Cup.

Messi finally won the elusive trophy in 2022, with Ronaldo still missing it from his own cabinet. Despite their rivalry, the Barcelona legend has always had huge respect for the Portugal star.

Speaking earlier this year, Messi said: “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, and for the career he’s had and continues to have.

“He is still competing at the highest level. The competition with him was on the pitch. Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. Everything stayed on the pitch.

“Off the pitch, we are two normal guys. We’re not friends because we don’t spend time together, but we’ve always treated each other with a lot of respect.”

Messi and Ronaldo are separated but united by rivalry

Ronaldo’s career began with Sporting CP in Portugal, before he was spotted by Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United.

After six years in the Premier League, the forward joined Real Madrid. Messi’s career started differently, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner breaking through as a teenager at Barcelona.

Speaking after Ronaldo had left to join Juventus in 2018, Messi was asked to pick the world’s best footballers.

“There are so many good players now,” he said. “Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Luis Suarez, Eden Hazard, any of them could become the best in the world.”

“I didn’t include Cristiano Ronaldo in that list,” Messi added. “Because I consider him to be on the same level as me. It was fun to play against him, even if he made me suffer too.”

The Argentine would later confess that he missed Ronaldo. “I do wish he was still in Spain,” he admitted. “But I have a great deal of respect for Juventus.

“They seem a very strong squad, with excellent players, and are now even stronger with Cristiano.”

Ronaldo ‘stands out in football’

Part of what has always made the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo so captivating is the fact that the players are so different.

Messi, the small and nimble dribbler, using his low centre of gravity to dribble his way out of any situation, while possessing the ability to produce pure magic with either boot.

Ronaldo, the tall, physically dominant forward, capable of smashing in a 40-yard free-kick, and leaping to inhuman heights to head home.

Their differing styles are representative in each man’s personality, too. Messi has always been the quieter type, preferring to keep to himself, while Ronaldo is one for the lavish celebration – the centre of attention.

Messi admitted something similar in an interview in 2023. “There are many admirable athletes. Rafa Nadal, Federer, LeBron – in all sports there is always someone who stands out and is admirable for his work.

“Cristiano stands out in football. There are many who stand out and always do their best.”

Next year’s World Cup will likely present the very last stage to see the pair in action on the big stage, and it must be savoured.