Ronaldo says potential World Cup clash with Messi "would be top" after Portugal rout

Ronaldo relishes the idea of facing Messi after big Portugal win.

Latest World Cup update: Cristiano Ronaldo starred in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan at NRG Stadium, scoring a brace as his side secured progression to the Round of 32. Asked after the match whether a potential meeting with Lionel Messi’s Argentina at the tournament would appeal, the 41-year-old was succinct: "It'd be top." The result and Ronaldo’s comments set up a high-stakes final group game against Colombia that will decide who tops Group K.

Why it matters

A Portugal–Argentina meeting would be one of the marquee matchups of the 2026 World Cup, bringing together two of the game’s greatest rivals in what the report frames as Ronaldo’s international swansong. Portugal’s commanding win and Ronaldo’s form increase the possibility of such a blockbuster — but the exact route depends on Group K placings and the tournament bracket.

How a Ronaldo–Messi clash could happen

The potential meeting is limited to the single-elimination phase rather than the group stage. If Portugal finish top of Group K they would be placed in the same half of the knockout bracket as Argentina, which could set up a quarter-final showdown if both nations progress through their Round of 32 and Round of 16 ties. If Portugal finish second in Group K, they would be placed in the opposite half of the bracket and a meeting with Argentina would only be possible in the final, according to the scenario outlined in the report.

Match reaction and the immediate implications for Portugal

Ronaldo’s brace helped Portugal to a dominant 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan and, as the source notes, officially secured their place in the Round of 32. He tempered talk of a high-profile showdown with Messi by refocusing on the next task: Portugal’s decisive final group fixture against Colombia. The supplied match data shows Colombia beat DR Congo 1-0, which means the Portugal–Colombia finale will directly determine the Group K winner.

• Portugal 5–0 Uzbekistan — Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace and Portugal qualified for the Round of 32 (source).
• Ronaldo on Messi: he said a meeting with Lionel Messi "would be top" when asked after the match (source).
• Colombia beat DR Congo 1–0, making the Portugal–Colombia final group game decisive for the Group K winner (match_data).
• If Portugal finish top of Group K they could meet Argentina in the quarter-finals; if they finish second, a Ronaldo–Messi meeting would only be possible in the final (source).

What happens next

Portugal’s final Group K match against Colombia becomes the crucial fixture for determining whether Ronaldo and Messi could be on a collision course in the knockout rounds. The team advances to the Round of 32 regardless after the win over Uzbekistan, but the group winner — and therefore the potential path through the bracket — will be settled by the Portugal–Colombia result.