Two of football's greatest rivals could be about to become teammates for the first time, as reports from Argentina suggest that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the targets for a farewell match organised by former striker Carlos Tevez.

Tevez, who retired in 2021 at the age of 42 while representing Boca Juniors, is planning a star-studded send-off event at La Bombonera — the iconic Buenos Aires stadium with a capacity of 57,000 — with a provisional date pencilled in for December.

A reunion of legends

According to TYC Sports, as cited by The Sun, Tevez intends to field a starting eleven drawn from his closest friends across both his personal and professional life, while the opposing side would be made up of players he partnered at various clubs throughout his career.

The link to Messi and Ronaldo is straightforward: Tevez played for Argentina alongside Messi on the international stage, and spent two seasons at Manchester United alongside Ronaldo. That shared history makes both men prime candidates for inclusion.

Organizers are targeting a pool of around 60 guest players, with former clubs including Corinthians, Manchester City, and Juventus also expected to be represented in the lineup of invitees.

Plans still at an early stage

The proposal remains in its earliest stages, and it has not yet been confirmed which side Messi would feature on should he agree to participate — making the prospect of Messi and Ronaldo lining up together all the more intriguing, but far from certain.

Across their storied careers, the pair faced each other on 37 occasions for club and country, forging one of sport's defining rivalries over two decades. A farewell match for Tevez could offer the one scenario neither has experienced — wearing the same colours on the same pitch.