What Happened the First Time Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Played at the World Cup?

This summer's FIFA World Cup will be a blockbuster for plenty of reasons. It's the biggest edition of the tournament ever hosted, with 48 teams competing instead of the usual 32 across three of the planet's biggest nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

As well as that, the tournament is wide open, with European heavyweights Spain, England, and France all expected to contend, as well as record champions Brazil and reigning holders Argentina.

But perhaps the main reason why the 2026 World Cup will forever be remembered is that it's the final time that both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will step onto the storied global stage. Messi will be aged 39 by the time the tournament draws to a close on July 19th, while his long-time rival CR7 is already 41. The two will head to the tournament for a record-breaking sixth time, and online betting sites consider both icons genuine contenders to end the summer as World Cup winners.

The latest Lucky Rebel World Cup odds currently list Messi's Argentina as an 8/1 contender to defend the crown they won in thrilling fashion in Qatar four years ago. Ronaldo and Portugal, meanwhile, are 11/1 shots to claim the title for the first time. Either one of them winning on their final ever trip to the tournament would be poetic, but what happened the first time the two superstars stepped onto this storied stage, exactly 20 years ago? Let's take a look at the World Cup 2006.

Roanldo's Greatest Ever Effort

Cristiano Ronaldo was just 21 years of age the first time he featured at the World Cup in Germany in 2006. But despite his tender years, he was already a superstar. The Portuguese sensation had become a household name with Manchester United, and he was already the talisman of his national team. Portugal's squad contained the likes of Luis Figo, Deco, and Ricardo Carvalho, but it was CR7 who was the man tasked with leading his side to glory, and he duly set about the task at hand.

Portugal breezed through the group stage, winning all three of their games, with Ronaldo netting his first-ever World Cup goal in the process. But it was the knockout stages where the 21-year-old had to show maturity beyond his tender years.

In the second round, the Seleção das Quinas progressed past the Netherlands in the infamous Battle of Nuremberg. Russian referee Valentin Ivanov handed out 16 yellow and 4 red cards in that particular contest, but it was Portugal who emerged victorious, thanks to Maniche's first-half strike. In the quarterfinals against England, Ronaldo was front and center, playing a key role in the sending off of Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney before going on to score the deciding spotkick in the penalty shootout.

That win sent Portugal to the semifinals for the first time since 1966, and just like in Eusebio's time, it proved one step too far. France would punch their ticket to the final, emerging with a narrow 1-0 victory through Zinedine Zidane's first-half penalty. Ronaldo hasn't made it to the semifinals since.

Teenage Messi Announces His Arrival

Lionel Messi was just 17 years of age when Argentina played their opening game of the 2006 World Cup, a narrow 2-1 victory against Didier Drogba's Ivory Coast. He had only just managed to break through in the Barcelona first team, netting six goals in 17 appearances alongside Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o in Catalonia. That effort saw him pick up seven caps for the Albiceleste before the tournament would get underway, but he was still selected to the World Cup squad despite his tender years.

Messi would make his World Cup bow in Argentina's second game, a 16-minute substitute appearance in the 6-0 drubbing against Serbia and Montenegro. The young magician netted his first World Cup goal in that victory, before starting the goalless draw against the Netherlands that saw the Argentinians top Group C's resident "Group of Death."

The teenager would make one more appearance at the tournament, coming off the bench in the round of 16 victory against Mexico. He wouldn't, however, appear in the quarterfinal against hosts Germany, a game which the Albiceleste lost on penalties. How different could things have been had the young prodigy been handed an opportunity to win his team the game off the bench? We'll never know.

Zidane's Moment of Madness Hands Italy the Trophy

Neither Messi's Argentina nor Ronaldo's Portugal would contest the final, however. That was an honor that went to both Italy and France, with the two unfancied European outfits managing to sweep all before them en route to Berlin. The Azzurri's vaunted defence and Les Bleus' aging talisman Zinedine Zidane were crucial to the success of both sides, and in the end, it was those two X-Factors that stole the spotlight at the Olympiastadion.

Zidane had announced before the World Cup that he would be retiring after the tournament concluded, and he put France in the lead early on with his iconic Panenka penalty, crashing home off the underside of the crossbar. Italy struck back almost immediately, however, when defender Marco Materazzi nodded home an Andrea Pirlo corner. The game would remain 1-1 until deep into extra time, when Zizou's moment of madness saw him plant a headbutt into the chest of the Italian goalscorer.

The French captain was duly sent off, his career ending in scarcely believable fashion. Italy, meanwhile, would take full advantage, winning on penalties after David Trezeguet's spotkick rattled back off the crossbar, allowing Fabio Grosso to sweep home the decider.