Need to knowLionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo continue to dominate headlines and the legendary duo could yet meet at this summer's World Cup after Argentina and Portugal progressed into the knockouts09:39, 28 Jun 2026Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been battling each other for nearly 20 years(Image: ISI Photos via Getty Images)Below is a look at how Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could still come face-to-face at this summer's World Cup...Football fans were dealt a minor blow after Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal drew 0-0 with Colombia in their final Group K match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This result secured a runners-up finish for Portugal and shifted them to the opposite side of the knockout fixtures bracket from Argentina.Previously, a highly anticipated quarter-final clash between Messi and Ronaldo was possible if both nations had won their respective groups. But because Argentina comfortably secured the top spot in Group J, the two rival teams are now mathematically prevented from meeting early in the tournament.With Portugal second, the iconic forward duo can only face each other if both teams qualify for the World Cup final. This development drastically reduces the mathematical likelihood of witnessing another historic Messi vs. Ronaldo international showdown.The path to the final will be exceptionally gruelling for both sides, given the high-calibre form of other elite contenders. Powerhouses like France, England, Brazil, and the Netherlands have all topped their groups, making the road ahead formidable but not completely impossible.Portugal’s single-elimination knockout journey is scheduled to begin on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the Toronto Stadium. In this Round of 32 matchup, Ronaldo's squad will face a difficult European hurdle against Croatia.If Portugal advances past Croatia, the competitive difficulty escalates rapidly into a projected Round of 16 blockbuster in Dallas on July 6. Their most probable opponent there will be Group H winners Spain, assuming the Spanish team defeats the Group J runners-up.A victory over Spain would propel the Portuguese squad into a high-stakes quarter-final match in Los Angeles on July 10. In this round, they are scheduled to clash with the ultimate survivor from a bracket featuring England or the United States.Conquering the quarter-finals would place Portugal in a July 14 semi-final back in Dallas for a spot in the ultimate match. Their final barrier before the final would likely be a modern powerhouse such as Germany, the Netherlands, or France.Meanwhile, Argentina's title-defending campaign resumes on Friday, July 3, 2026, with a confirmed Round of 32 fixture against Cape Verde in Miami. Should Lionel Scaloni's men advance, they will face the winner of Australia versus Egypt in the Round of 16.Argentina's projected quarter-final hurdle points to an encounter against heavyweights like Colombia, Switzerland, or Iran. Overcoming that challenge would place them in the semi-finals, where elite opponents like France or the Netherlands are expected to emerge as their final obstacle before the final.Content cannot be displayed without consent