Who will retire first Messi or Ronaldo? The ultimate debate

Who will retire first Messi or Ronaldo? Retirement. It’s a scary word for fans of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, especially as the two football icons enter the final chapters of their careers. But what do we really know about their retirement plans? After all, neither player has officially set a retirement date as of yet. However, both Messi and Ronaldo have recently hinted at when they might decide to hang up their boots. So let’s see what is most likely to happen with Kingsoccertips.

When will Messi and Ronaldo retire? A look back at the 2026 World Cup

It is widely believed that Messi and Ronaldo will both retire after the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. By the time the tournament takes place, Messi will be 39 and Ronaldo will be 41, with the latter set to be one of the oldest outfield players to ever feature at a World Cup. It would be a fitting end for both players, giving them the chance to bid farewell to the biggest stage while (potentially) facing each other for the final time if Argentina and Portugal meet. And while they will likely be used in smaller roles for their respective countries, Messi and Ronaldo playing together in a final tournament is something every football fan on the planet would love to see.

Who will retire first Messi or Ronaldo? The ultimate debate

In regards to the 2026 World Cup, Messi has previously stated that he would be there if he “could compete and help his teammates”. Likewise, Ronaldo has expressed interest in continuing his international career after Portugal’s disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, stating that “I think I will be there for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.” Based on this, there is a very good chance that Messi and Ronaldo will be in their respective countries’ starting XIs in two years’ time. Additionally, don’t be surprised if both players announce in the build-up to the World Cup that they will officially retire at the tournament, which would be a huge emotional moment for fans to witness.

Messi’s retirement path

Lionel Messi’s retirement path is said to be quite interesting. Currently contracted to play for Inter Miami until the end of the 2025 MLS season, it is speculated that Messi will not retire when his Inter Miami contract expires. Instead, a heroic return to his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys could be on the cards, as Messi previously played for Newell’s youth team from the ages of six to twelve. One possible retirement plan would see Messi sign a short-term deal with Newell’s Old Boys, play a season, and finish things off at the 2026 World Cup before officially hanging up his boots.

However, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner recently addressed the speculation about his future by saying that “Inter Miami will be the last club of my career.” However, while Messi was at Barcelona, he said many times that he planned to retire there, but that never came to fruition. The problem is that players change their minds and plans from season to season, so the possibility of Messi returning to Argentina to finish his club career with his hometown club Newell’s Old Boys is still quite high.

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Ronaldo’s retirement path

Like his long-time rival Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s retirement path will also be interesting. At the moment, CR7 is currently playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, having officially joined the club in 2022. And with his contract set to expire in June 2025, Ronaldo will need to extend his current deal with Al-Nassr for another season or join a new club if he still wants to play at the 2026 World Cup with Portugal.

As has long been rumored, Ronaldo is likely to return to Sporting Lisbon, with whom he could sign a short-term contract after leaving Al-Nassr. This would then give Ronaldo the opportunity to finish his club career in Europe before playing at the 2026 World Cup, where he would likely play a more limited role for Portugal, appearing briefly from the bench whenever they needed him.

However, it is well known that Ronaldo’s passion for football is insatiable, with many critics and fans believing that he would find it almost impossible to retire from the game to which he has dedicated himself. This is why there is still a strong possibility that Ronaldo will continue playing after the 2026 World Cup, especially if he remains fit and can maintain his goalscoring ability into his early 40s. It is also important to remember that Ronaldo is keen to reach 1,000 career goals, which would require him to continue playing for at least another 3 to 4 seasons if he is to achieve this goal.

Messi and Ronaldo retirement adds: What do the bookies say?

Rumours of Messi and Ronaldo retiring have been heating up since the early 2020s. This has led to many sportsbooks offering special retirement odds, allowing fans everywhere to bet on when they think Messi and Ronaldo will officially retire. For 2024, Ronaldo is 6/1 in odds for retirement, while Messi is 7/1. The reason Ronaldo has the lowest odds is because of the two-year age gap, so most sportsbooks expect him to be the first to retire.

Since both Messi and Ronaldo are expected to continue playing for at least another two years until the 2026 World Cup, most fans have yet to bet on them to retire. Instead, they continue to watch Inter Miami and Al-Nassr matches so they can place ‘Same Match Parlays’ (SBPs), which is when you bet on multiple outcomes occurring in the same match (e.g. Ronaldo scoring and assisting for Al-Nassr). You can even get SGPs on Sharperz.com to help you build your bets, whether you want to place ‘Same Match Parlays’ on Messi or Ronaldo matches.

Will Messi and Ronaldo ever play together?

Fans have been dying to see Messi and Ronaldo play together for years (and you might be one of them). Despite facing each other 36 times, the two footballing icons have never played together in the same team, not even in a charity match. And sadly, it seems like this dream partnership will never come to fruition as both players are nearing retirement. The last time that happened was in 2022 when PSG were reportedly close to signing Ronaldo after he left Manchester United, although PSG ultimately decided not to make a formal contract offer. The deal would have seen Ronaldo and Messi finally play together, albeit only for a short time, given that Messi left PSG for Inter Miami in the summer of 2023.

Final thoughts

Time is ticking for Messi and Ronaldo when it comes to retirement, sparking debates about “who will retire first: Messi or Ronaldo?” Thankfully, neither has retired yet. Many believe both stars could grace the 2026 World Cup, a fitting stage for their farewell. While there’s a slim chance one might step away earlier, it seems unlikely. Ronaldo’s drive to play remains stronger than ever, and Messi, fresh off a Copa America win, still burns brightly. Collectively, they’ve claimed 80 trophies, 13 Ballon d’Ors, over 1,000 appearances, and 800+ goals. Regardless of who retires first, their legacies are unmatched. Whether you’re #TeamMessi or #TeamRonaldo, cherishing these icons while they’re still active is what truly matters.