Playing with one of the all-time greats is one thing but playing with two is absolutely next level – and only 16 players in history have been blessed to play in the same team as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
So far, the ‘dream list’ is across the Portugal and Argentina national sides, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus of those who have had the pleasure and privilege of playing alongside the pair of legends.
But Messi’s imminent move to Paris Saint-Germain means a more will soon join the exclusive club: Keylor Navas, Achraf Hakimi, Sergio Ramos and Danilo Pereira have all played with Ronaldo and will now be teammates with Messi.
Here is the company they will find themselves in:
Fernando Gago
Played with Ronaldo for three years at Real Madrid as well as Messi for the Argentina national team.
Gabriel Heinze
Was Ronaldo’s teammate for three years at Manchester United and Messi’s colleague for La Albiceleste.
Gerard Pique
Spent the first part of his career at United with Ronaldo as he was on the way to his first Ballon d’Or win and has been up and close and personal to see all six of Messi’s prizes.
Andre Gomes
A slightly left-field member of the club, Gomes is captained by Ronaldo for Portugal and spent two years as Messi’s teammate at Barcelona.
Angel Di Maria
Linked up superbly with Ronaldo at Real Madrid, winning the 2014 Champions League. Won the Copa America alongside Messi this summer and will now play with him at club level.
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| Image: PA |
Carlos Tevez
Ripped it up in the Premier League alongside Ronaldo and reached two Copa America finals for Argentina playing with Messi.
Paulo Dybala
Has spent years in Messi’s company in international football, in addition to two title-winning seasons with Ronaldo at Juventus.
Gonzalo Higuain
He too played in the same frontline as the two titans of world football with Real Madrid, Argentina and Juventus respectively. Now plays for Inter Miami in the MLS.
Henrik Larsson
Predominantly associated with Celtic, Larsson won the Champions League alongside a young Messi in 2006 and then the Premier League with Ronaldo after playing 13 games on loan at Manchester United a year later.
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| Image: PA |
Nelson Semedo
Won back-to-back La Liga titles in the same Barcelona side as Messi and lifted the UEFA Nations League with Ronaldo in 2019.
Ezequiel Garay
Played two seasons with Ronaldo in Madrid and made his Argentina debut in 2007 before going on to play in a World Cup final with Messi seven years later.
Deco
Teamed up with
Messi in his early days at Barcelona and represented Portugal alongside Ronaldo.
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| Image: PA |
Martin Caceres
Won the 2009 Champions League alongside Messi against Ronaldo’s United in Rome before becoming his teammate during his third spell at Juventus in January 2019.
Miralem Pjanic
Shared free-kick duties with Ronaldo at Juventus, where the pair won back-to-back Scudettos. Was colleagues with Messi at Barcelona under Ronald Koeman.
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Arthur Melo Lifted La Liga with Messi in Catalonia and then joined up with Ronaldo in Turin as part of a swap deal involving Pjanic.
Francisco Trincao The 20-year-old linked up with both Messi and Ronaldo this year after sealing a dream move to Barcelona from Braga and then lined up with Ronaldo for the first time in a 0-0 draw between Portugal and Spain in October last year. Currently on loan at Premier League side Wolves. |