Di Maria Declares End of Messi-Ronaldo Era but Leaves Door Open for 2026 World Cup Twist

(Messi-Ronaldo. Photo by Goal.com)

Former Real Madrid and Argentina winger Angel Di Maria has declared that the era of rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has come to an end, while still leaving the door open for either legend to claim the 2026 Ballon d’Or with a standout World Cup performance.

Speaking in an interview with the official Ballon d’Or website, Di Maria who won the 2022 World Cup alongside Messi and previously played with Ronaldo at Real Madrid said the world will never see a rivalry of that magnitude again.

He acknowledged that neither player is currently among the frontrunners for the individual award but insisted that a memorable World Cup showing could still put either of them in contention.

Both Messi and Ronaldo are preparing for what will be their sixth World Cup appearance, with the tournament taking place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Their respective nations, Argentina and Portugal, are potential contenders for the title, though the draw has placed them on a collision course in the quarter-finals meaning only one can progress beyond that stage if both teams win their earlier matches.

Between them, the two icons have claimed the Ballon d’Or 13 times, with Messi holding the record at eight wins, the most recent coming in 2023 following Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph.

In a notable side note, the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will for the first time be held outside France, with London set to host the event on October 26.