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Doubts have been raised over whether a stunning GOAT union could take place in the United States as time runs out for Cristiano Ronaldo to join eternal rival Lionel Messi in MLS.
Philippe Senderos told GOAL that two all-time greats remain on “different paths”, but the American game is backed to create its own superstars as the “soccer culture” continues to grow.
Messi and Ronaldo win trophies in America and Saudi Arabia
Argentine icon Messi has decided to pursue the American dream in 2023 by joining Inter Miami. Manchester United and England legend Sir David Beckham, as co-owner of the Herons, helped make the deal possible.
It saw the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner win the Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in South Florida, as the most decorated player in history continued to add to his glittering CV.
Ronaldo did the same, with the evergreen leader still going strong at 41. He has just enjoyed a Saudi Pro League title triumph with Al-Nassr and will join Messi at the 2026 World Cup – as captain of Portugal and Argentina respectively.
After finally landing a major honor in the Middle East, questions have been asked about whether CR7 – who remains keen to become a teammate of his son Cristiano Jr – might be tempted to take on a new challenge.
Beckham, as United’s other legendary number 7, is seen as being able to pull off a remarkable deal. Messi and Ronaldo have never been on the same team before, so could this happen before both retire?
Should Messi and Ronaldo join forces before retiring?
When asked if he would like to see the powers of two sporting superheroes combine, former Arsenal defender Senderos – who spent time with the Houston Dynamo towards the end of his career – told GOAL while speaking in association with Sports Spreadex: “I think they obviously chose different paths, with Ronaldo coming to Saudi Arabia and Messi coming to the United States. It doesn’t matter if they stay apart.
“I think they are now approaching the latter part of their career. It would already be amazing to see them at the World Cup. We don’t know if we are going to see them in another World Cup, so it would already be amazing for everyone to see them.”
Can MLS start producing more homegrown superstars?
Messi has, through two MVP-winning seasons in MLS, helped raise the profile of American soccer. Other big names are expected to follow him stateside, but will the collective focus eventually shift away from big-name imports and toward local idols?
Senderos responded to this question: “They are working a lot on this and developing the academies. Every club in MLS now has an academy and they are working more and more towards the elite.
“They of course need Messi and big stars to give this appeal to the league and the big markets that need to be active, like Miami, New York, Los Angeles. But the United States has enormous potential.
“As we know, they have resources, they have a huge population and the only thing is to really create that culture so that the players, like the Messis and the big stars, can influence that and create that football culture.”
Messi contract extension makes Ronaldo union possible
Messi will stay for the foreseeable future, having committed to extending his contract with Inter Miami until 2028. He continues to rewrite the history books and will be another to play on beyond the age of 40.
It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will ever explore the possibility of sharing a dressing room with his fellow GOAT – outside of future exhibitions – with opinions divided when it comes to a transfer that would capture the imagination of a global audience.
FIFA World Cup 2026: how to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34), with each game streamed live and on-demand in the FOX One and FOX Sports apps. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, along with the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
