Chiefs roasted for 'old fashioned Nabi' blunder - 'Winner Pitso was ready for the challenge'

Salah reigns at Xmas as Liverpool trio send message to FSG

PSL Transfers & Rumours: Chiefs & Chippa set to discuss Ntwari, Nwabali swap deal

Best Betting Sites - Our Top 15 List for South Africa l December 2024

Next Hayes? Inside the FA's bid to produce more women coaches

‘Riveiro showed that Chiefs have good players & they just need a good coach! Nabi must promote Hlongwane now’

Mthethwa sends brutal dig at Riveiro's Pirates after AmaZulu move 

Free-agent Mothiba picks between Chiefs and Sundowns 

 'You're disrupting the team!' Pirates urged to warn Tito & Saleng as key attackers continue to miss important games

Report: Nabi makes decision on Raja's offer after Casablanca fire Pinto as pressure mounts on Chiefs coach 

Carragher calls for bans after awful Raya moment against Palace

'Larson's job was to mop the floor with 57 Fans FC & he won with low-profile players but Chiefs say Nabi has no quality! Bucs hire Clinton' 

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Legends assured of standings among the greats</li><li>Maintaining remarkable levels of performance</li><li>Could have more tournaments left in them</li></ul>

Are there really ‘many years’ left in Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry? Former USMNT stars Alexi Lalas & Stuart Holden explain why GOAT battle could continue to 2026 World Cup

<p>Two all-time greats have <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-vs-cristiano-ronaldo-ex-barcelona-portugal-star-deco-diplomatic-ideal-world-answer-goat-debate/bltd40c84d158ed2236" target="_blank">spent the best part of 20 years scrapping it out for the right to be considered the best player on the planet</a> – and potentially the finest to have ever played the game. They have 13 Ballons d’Or between them, record-breaking collections of trophies and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/records-follow-me-cristiano-ronaldo-reacts-more-history-al-nassr-superstar-50-goals-season/blt6adf896e2fd67e6e" target="_blank">countless entries in the history books</a>.</p><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72px; height: 40px;"><span class="affiliate-text">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</span></div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank">Stream games now</a></div>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Ronaldo is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/contract-extension-cristiano-ronaldo-40-al-nassr-superstar-prolong-62-goal-stint-saudi-arabia/blt9b5fe85776a669ee" target="_blank">due to turn 40 in 2025</a>, while Messi is approaching his 37th birthday, but former USMNT star Holden can see both men <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-2026-world-cup-hint-last-tournament-message-manchester-united-argentina-defender-lisandro-martinez/blte5107699536b5b4d" target="_blank">playing through to the 2026 World Cup</a>. He has told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-can-still-compete-high-level-despite-age-fox-sports-stu-holden-says " target="_blank"><em>Fox Sports</em></a>: “If we can ride this Messi vs. Ronaldo, in the comparison that has probably driven them internally as well in their motivation to keep pushing, and as long as they have that drive, there’s no reason these guys can’t still be playing at a high level for many years to come. These guys rarely have had major injuries. If you look at Ronaldo, he’s probably got the body of a 21-year-old still in his physique. And yet, Messi has been able to evolve and change his game and adapt to his current physical restraints, which he still has that intense speed and acceleration and finishing ability.”</p>

WHAT HOLDEN SAID

<p>Fellow former United States international Lalas is reluctant to speculate on what the future could hold for two GOATs, with there questions to be asked of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/how-cristiano-ronaldo-reached-pinnacle-ruthless-industry-eternal-rival-lionel-messi-more-talented/blt7c1b8b6dc87f5cbe" target="_blank">how motivated they are to stay at the top</a> while <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-mls-mvp-only-clown-disagree-ex-usmnt-star-taylor-twellman-inter-miami-superstar-rewriting-history/blt39d8b7dfad9797ba" target="_blank">turning out in MLS and the Saudi Pro League for Inter Miami</a> and Al-Nassr. He said: “There was a time not too long ago before Messi was a champion of the world where it did not go well in terms of the final product, and he retired. I’m just fascinated this summer, as it relates to 2026, what he looks like with Argentina now in the first time since the World Cup and, more importantly, how much has changed relative to how we look at him. Not that he’s not great, but in the context of America and his new backyard and his neighbourhood and [what] he’s doing with Inter Miami, as opposed to Cristiano Ronaldo over there in Saudi Arabia, and for a lot of people, it’s kind of out of [sight], out of mind. Even though they’re competing in tournaments, and they’re happening at the same time, there will [still] be the inevitable compare and contrast with what’s going on and the fates of both of these teams relative to these two incredible players.” </p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Messi is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/copa-america-beware-lionel-messi-off-leash-argentina-continental-title-defence-united-states/bltfdfe537e7528afc1" target="_blank">readying himself for Copa America duty with Argentina</a>, as they seek to defend that continental crown, while evergreen Portuguese forward <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/what-kind-captain-cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr-portugal-superstar-discipline-them-admission-explaining-leadership-style/blt67904af77e95f42f" target="_blank">Ronaldo is about to open a bid to land a second European Championship title</a> in his illustrious career.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Are there really ‘many years’ left in Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry? Former USMNT stars Alexi Lalas & Stuart Holden explain why GOAT battle could continue to 2026 World Cup | Goal.com South Africa

Stuart Holden believes there are “many years” left in the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry, while Alexi Lalas is intrigued by the battle.

Are there really ‘many years’ left in Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo rivalry? Former USMNT stars Alexi Lalas &amp; Stuart Holden explain why GOAT battle could continue to 2026 World Cup