On Saturday, the 38-year-old Messi scored his sixth brace in seven games for Inter Miami as they beat the New York Red Bulls 5–1, but it was the mark he set in the matchup that brought Ronaldo into the conversation.

Lionel Messi shined with two assists in Inter Miami’s victory over Atlas, further extending his impressive career lead over Cristiano Ronaldo. Even though Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have stepped away from top-level competition in Europe,

Lionel Messi is ready to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo by playing into his 40s, with it reported that he will extend his Inter Miami contract to 2028.