Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the greatest soccer players of all time. Over the course of his career, he had a sporting rivalry with Lionel Messi. With many not anticipating Ronaldo to stay many more years in professional soccer,

As his long-time rivalry with Messi continues to define an era, fans and pundits alike have asked the same question—will Ronaldo be there? The answer has finally arrived. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most spectacular soccer events in recent history.

It’s almost five years since Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo last faced off in a competitive fixture, and it looks increasingly unlikely we’ll never see it happen again as they wind down their careers in different footballing orbits.