Former Argentine footballer CarlosTévez has announced his intention to organize a farewell match in which both CristianoRonaldo and LionelMessi, two of the greatest icons of world football, will participate. As reported by Infobae, the event will be held on December 20, 2026 in LaBombonera, with the authorization of JuanRománRiquelme. Tévez's goal is to “close the circle” and give both players the opportunity to play together at the end of their careers.
Tévez, who retired in 2022 after a career that included titles at Boca Juniors, ManchesterUnited and other clubs, has confessed on the Argentine streaming channel “OLGA” that he is already preparing the logistics of the match. During the interview, the former striker explained that the match will feature legendary goalkeeper figures such as GianluigiBuffon and EdwinVanderSar, defenders such as FranzFerdinand, NemanjaVidic, GiorgioChiellini and LeonardoBonucci, and midfielders such as AndreaPirlo, PaulScholes and Riquelme himself. Viewers called it “the best friendly in history” before Tévez revealed the idea of bringing Ronaldo and Messi together.
According to Tévez himself, the idea arose from his desire to see the two players, with whom he shared numerous occasions in the Argentine national team and Manchester United, respectively, playing on the same team. “We put them together,” he stated firmly, adding that “I'm going to look for Cristiano, and the dwarf too.” The former striker recalled that he played 47 games with Messi in the national team and 80 with Ronaldo in Manchester United, which gives him a unique perspective on both talents.
The event, which will be promoted as a “friends of football” and is expected to be a high-level spectacle, will feature the participation of other players who have shared a team with the two superstars. Additionally, the match is expected to serve as a form of farewell for fans, offering one last opportunity to see the two players in action together. The announcement has generated great expectation among followers of both players and the history of football, who see in this proposal a way to celebrate the career of two of the best of the modern era.