Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's highly anticipated final World Cup matchup did not take place.
On June 28, Portugal played to a 0-0 draw against Colombia in the final group stage match of Group K at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
The draw allowed Colombia to finish first in the group with 7 points (2 wins, 1 draw), while Portugal secured second place with 5 points (1 win, 2 draws).
As a result of this outcome, the much-anticipated showdown between Messi and Ronaldo was eliminated.
Initially, if Portugal had finished first in Group K, they would have faced Argentina in the quarterfinals. However, by finishing second, the paths of the two teams diverged.
Messi and Ronaldo have been the top rivals in world football for nearly two decades, but they have never faced each other in a World Cup match.
This North America World Cup is viewed as the last opportunity for the 39-year-old Messi and 41-year-old Ronaldo to compete on this stage. Fans had high hopes for their first and possibly only World Cup clash, but Portugal's second-place finish dashed those expectations.
Meanwhile, in Group K, Colombia finished first and Portugal second, both advancing to the knockout stage. In another match held at the same time, the Democratic Republic of Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1, securing third place in the group and a spot in the next round.
With 4 points, the Democratic Republic of Congo surpassed South Korea, confirming that more than eight teams would qualify as third-place finishers, while South Korea was eliminated from the group stage.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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