World Cup takeaways for Round of 32: Portugal's draw with Colombia likely denied us the chance to see Messi vs. Ronaldo

Portugal's 0-0 draw with Colombia on Saturday, June 28, 2026 left Portugal finishing second in Group K, placing them on the opposite side of the knockout bracket from Argentina. As a result, a potential quarterfinal meeting between Lionel Messi (39) and Cristiano Ronaldo (41) at the World Cup has been effectively eliminated. The two icons can now only face each other if both nations reach the final scheduled for July 19.