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The FIFA World Cup is often described as the 'biggest show on earth.' Yet the 2026 edition feels even more significant, as it could mark the final World Cup appearances of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. For more than a generation, these three superstars have charmed football fans worldwide with their performance and aura.
However, recent performances, as well as the strength and standing of their respective national teams, suggest very different prospects for each.
At 38, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is set to play in his sixth World Cup for Argentina. The forward, who currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS), has scored 12 goals and provided 7 assists in 14 appearances during the 2025–26 season. According to FotMob, Messi has maintained an average rating of 8.47 this season, the highest in MLS.
Messi is also Inter Miami's all-time leading goalscorer, having scored 90 goals for the club in official competitions.
At the twilight of his career, Messi continues to rewrite the record books with remarkable consistency.
Messi will enter the 2026 World Cup with the burden of winning football's greatest prize already lifted from his shoulders, having done so in Qatar in 2022.
Meanwhile, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo continues to demonstrate his goalscoring prowess despite entering the final stages of his illustrious career.
During the current season, Ronaldo scored 28 goals and provided 2 assists in 30 appearances for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
Since joining the club, CR7 has helped secure one piece of silverware, scoring twice in the final of the Arab Club Champions Cup against Al Hilal.
The 41-year-old forward set a new Saudi Pro League record during the 2023–24 season by scoring 35 league goals, the highest tally ever recorded in a single campaign. He has now scored 129 goals for Al Nassr across all competitions so far, becoming the first and only player in history to score more than 100 goals in three different leagues — La Liga, the Premier League and the Saudi Pro League.
Maintaining such a prolific goalscoring record at the age of 41 is a testament to his ability at the highest level.
Should he find the net again in 2026? He would further strengthen a record that may prove exceptionally difficult for future generations to surpass.
Portugal, meanwhile, possesses one of the most talented squads in international football. With a bunch of experienced leaders and emerging stars, the team has the quality to challenge for the sport's biggest prize. If the chemistry between Ronaldo and his teammates clicks at the right moment, a Portuguese triumph would not come as a major surprise.
Neymar Jr is considerably younger than both Messi and Ronaldo. Still, his career has not been progressing as smoothly in recent years.
Persistent injury problems have repeatedly disrupted the Brazilian star's journey, and the current season has been no exception.
In 2017, Neymar completed a world-record €222 million transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain.
After six seasons in France, he moved to the Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in 2023. However, following another serious injury setback, the Saudi club mutually agreed to terminate his contract in early 2025, paving the way for a return to his boyhood club, Santos.
Across the 2025–26 campaign, he has made just eight appearances, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
Recent reports published by French outlet Foot Mercato indicate that his participation in the team's remaining group-stage fixtures remains highly uncertain.
Unlike Messi and Ronaldo, who remain the undisputed focal points of their respective national teams, there is now genuine debate over whether Neymar can still be considered Brazil's leading star.
His extended absence has allowed other players to take centre stage, with the Seleção boasting world-class talents such as Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha on the wings. Yet when it comes to the World Cup, unpredictability is often the only certainty.
The presence of these footballing icons makes the 2026 World Cup feel particularly special. By the time the next tournament arrives, one, two or even all three of Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar could have retired from international football. If that proves to be the case, this edition of the World Cup will be remembered as the final chapter of an extraordinary era.