Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could finally share a pitch as teammates for the first time in their careers, under a plan being organized by former Argentina forward Carlos Tévez for his farewell match at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, MARCA reported.
The fixture is targeted for December 20, 2026, according to Infobae, following approval from Boca Juniors president Juan Román Riquelme to use the stadium once competitions conclude. Tévez initially outlined his plans during an appearance on the Argentine streaming channel OLGA, where he detailed a roster of football icons he intends to assemble.
Assembling Icons for a Buenos Aires Farewell
Tévez retired from professional football in 2022 and has since pursued an official testimonial match at the stadium he considers his second home. The event is designed as a wider spectacle, featuring a team of international stars facing the 2003 Boca Juniors world-champion squad managed by Carlos Bianchi.
During his streaming appearance on OLGA, Tévez listed several former teammates he plans to invite, including goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and Edwin van der Sar, defenders Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Giorgio Chiellini, and Leonardo Bonucci, alongside midfielders Andrea Pirlo, Paul Scholes, and Riquelme. Addressing the prospect of uniting Messi and Ronaldo, Tévez stated bluntly, “A Cristiano lo voy a buscar yo” (I’ll go get Cristiano myself), while confirming his intention to bring in Messi as well.
Club Schedules Create Hurdles for December Date
Aligning the schedules of two active superstars presents logistical hurdles for the December 20 date. Infobae noted that Messi recently retired from the Argentina national team and maintains commitments solely with Inter Miami, which aims to contest the MLS final scheduled for December 18. Ronaldo’s commitments with Al Nassr run through a match on December 14 before the Saudi club enters a break ahead of the Asian Champions League in February 2027.
Boca Juniors faces a congested end-of-year fixture list involving the Clausura tournament, the Copa Argentina, and the Copa Sudamericana, which could extend the season deep into December. A potential clash exists with the Trofeo de Campeones, provisionally set for December 19 in Córdoba if Boca captures the Clausura title.
The Precedent of Shared Dressing Rooms
Tévez occupies a bridging position between the two modern greats, having shared the pitch with both during his playing days. Infobae recorded that Tévez featured in 47 matches alongside Messi for the Argentina national team between 2005 and the era of coach Tata Martino following the 2014 World Cup. Simultaneously, Tévez played 80 matches alongside Ronaldo during their shared tenure at Manchester United from 2007 to 2009.
While Messi and Ronaldo squared off in early 2023—when Paris Saint-Germain defeated an Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal all-star combined team 5–4 in Saudi Arabia—neither has ever lined up in the same team.
Musical Acts and Broadcast Plans Support Tribute Event
Beyond the pitch, Infobae detailed that the tribute event is expected to feature musical performances from Argentine artists including La Mona Jiménez, Pablo Lescano, and Ulises Bueno. Broadcast operations for the testimonial are anticipated to be handled by ESPN, network where Tévez previously worked as a commentator during the World Cup.
Tévez intends to maintain distance between the testimonial and club political elections at Boca Juniors to avoid speculation regarding his potential involvement with opposition groups ahead of late 2027 polls, as reported by Infobae.
