Messi and Ronaldo reflect on legacies in final stages of careers
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 17, 2026, 1:09 PM
Last updated Aug 17, 2026

As soccer icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo approach the twilight of their careers, both are evaluating their legacies. Messi shone for Argentina at the recent World Cup, scoring eight goals, but faces uncertainty about his national future following his father's passing. Ronaldo, meanwhile, anticipates this season with Al-Nassr may be his last, emphasizing the importance of leaving a 'spectacular legacy'. Their long-standing rivalry has defined a generation of soccer, raising questions about both players' next steps as they confront personal and professional changes.
- •Messi scored eight goals in the World Cup, finishing as runner-up with Argentina.
- •Ronaldo stated he expects this season to be his last in professional soccer.
- •Messi's future with the national team is uncertain after the death of his father.
- •The rivalry spanned nearly 20 years, with both players shaping the modern game.
- •Messi's contract with Inter Miami lasts until 2028.
- 1:09 PMYahoo Sports — Messi, Ronaldo And The End Of Soccer’s Greatest Rivalry
"The game may never again produce two players capable of occupying the same sporting and cultural space for such a long stretch of years.
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