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Lionel Messi is into another World Cup semi-final with Argentina. And Cristiano Ronaldo's comment about a potential meeting between the two on the world stage continues to age terribly.

The seemingly ageless Messi has hauled his national team into the World Cup's final four for the second tournament running after Argentina needed extra time to secure victory against Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

Messi's eight goals so far have enabled this surge and it will be Thomas Tuchel's England they meet in a blockbuster semi-final showdown. Yet, another ageing icon of the game and Messi's great rival, Ronaldo, has long been sent packing.

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Portugal were eliminated by Spain in the round of 16, losing 1-0. The stars did not align and enable Ronaldo and Messi to meet at this tournament, which is likely both their final World Cup. So, a comment Ronaldo made about the pair maybe going at it in a final still ages like milk.

Ronaldo's 2022 interview with Piers Morgan has become infamous. In it, he hit out at former club Manchester United, expressed his lack of respect for then-United boss Erik ten Hag and tore into some club legends. His contract was terminated days later.

But he also touched on the World Cup 2022 in Qatar and Morgan put to Ronaldo a hypothetical scenario: "So what about this idea? You get to the final, Portugal v Argentina. You score two, Messi scores two. Last minute, you score a third for your hat-trick. Is that the dream?"

Ronaldo grinned at the prospect of getting one over on his contemporary and needed just two words for his reply: "Too good." Alas, the chain of events will stay a dream.

Four years ago in the Middle East, Ronaldo endured an arduous tournament. Portugal reached the quarter-finals, but the Al-Nassr striker was dropped for a round-of-16 win against Switzerland.

Manager Fernando Santos tactically fell out with Ronaldo and their subsequent 1-0 defeat to Morocco preceded his departure from his position by mutual consent. The pain was made worse by Messi's Argentina lifting the title.

Under Roberto Martinez, Portugal suffered further knockout agony against Spain this month, with Ronaldo starting every single game at World Cup 2026 but unable to guide them past the round of 16. He scored three goals in total in what was his sixth World Cup.

Messi continues to rub salt into the wounds of Ronaldo though and his sights are set on another world crown. However, it'll be England who he'll have to overcome in Atlanta if he's to achieve this, with France or Spain waiting in the final.