Lionel Messi, draped in the black-and-gold bisht – a traditional, formal Arab cloak – over his Argentina jersey, hoisting the World Cup trophy in Qatar. Cristiano Ronaldo, in tears as he made the walk down the tunnel after Morocco ended Portugal’s dream in the quarter-finals.

In 2022, it seemed like these would be the lasting images from the iconic duo’s final chapter at the World Cup.

Messi had confirmed Qatar would be his last. Ronaldo’s sombre exit felt like the closing note.

But four years later, the lights are back on and the disco ball is spinning, as the sport’s biggest stars prepare for one final tango.

History will also be made, as they will become the first players to appear in six different World Cups.

For over two decades, the Argentine maestro and the Portuguese peacock have rewritten history for their respective nations.

Fans have been mesmerised by Messi’s magical left foot, and his wizard-like abilities made him the centrepiece of Argentina’s modern golden age, culminating in the Copa America in 2021 and 2024 and the World Cup.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, combined athleticism, goal-scoring and a relentless competitive streak to elevate Portugal to unprecedented success, picking up the Uefa Euro 2016 and 2019 Uefa Nations League trophies.

Along the way, Team Messi and Team Ronaldo fans soaked up the duo’s rivalry, feeling blessed that the world has been gifted these two huge football talents.

But many believed the debate had finally been settled when Messi produced the perfect mic drop moment of his career, guiding Argentina to World Cup triumph in Qatar and bringing home the trophy that had eluded his nation for 36 years.

But the lure o...