The legendary rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has captivated fans for nearly two decades. These global icons have shattered records and shared countless Ballon d’Or titles. Now, Argentine star Carlos Tevez is planning to reunite them on the same pitch—not as rivals, but as teammates.
Carlos Tevez, one of the few players to have played alongside both Messi and Ronaldo, is organizing his long-awaited testimonial match. He partnered with Ronaldo at Manchester United and later joined forces with Messi while representing the Argentina national team.
Since retiring from professional football in 2022, Tevez has yet to hold a farewell game to honor his illustrious career. Speaking recently to the Olga YouTube channel, El Apache revealed his plan: “This is something I still need to do. I want to close this chapter in my life, and I believe it will happen—it has to. We haven’t had the talks yet, but I’m going to make it happen. It’s just a matter of time.”
When asked if he intended to bring Messi and Ronaldo together for the event, Tevez replied without hesitation: “We’re bringing them both. If I have to, I’ll go get them myself. I still have them saved in my phone—‘CR7’ and ‘Enano’ (Shorty),” he joked. Tevez then listed the football legends he dreams of seeing on the field for his farewell:
“Wayne Rooney… Van der Sar on one team, Buffon on the other. Defenders like Rio Ferdinand, Vidic, Chiellini, Bonucci… and Patrice Evra—he’s like a brother to me. In midfield, Pirlo, Paul Scholes, Román Riquelme. And of course, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo—they’ll be there too.”
Throughout his career, Tevez represented elite clubs including West Ham, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, and Boca Juniors, winning major trophies and forming bonds with football legends. Now, he hopes to celebrate his journey with a historic reunion match—featuring a rare Messi and Ronaldo alliance.
When is Carlos Tevez’s farewell match?
Though still in the early planning stages, Tevez is confident his testimonial game will happen soon. “It has to happen. I’d love for it to be at the end of this year. There are no elections then. I need to meet with Román (Riquelme, president of Boca Juniors) to discuss the stadium and ensure politics don’t interfere like last time,” he explained.
“I’ve got a lot on my mind, but I need to get everything organized. A sit-down with Román will help. We can definitely make it happen by year’s end,” he added. If it comes to life, the match could deliver a dream scenario for fans: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, side by side on the same team.