From GOATs to tycoons: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi reignite rivalry off the pitch after surprise investments in Spanish football… so when will they face each other?

For years, the on-field rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has left its mark on world football.

The two titans of the game have battled for titles and individual accolades, particularly during Ronaldo’s nine-year tenure at Real Madrid, when he faced Messi’s unforgettable Barcelona side directly.

In fact, the duo won 12 of the 13 Ballon d’Or awards between 2008 and 2021. Their monopoly was interrupted by Luka Modric in 2018.

In recent years, as their careers at Inter Miami and Al-Nassr have come to an end, exhibition matches have been held occasionally to pit the two legendary rivals against each other, while fans try to take advantage of every opportunity to pit them against each other.

But last month, a new rivalry emerged off the pitch after both invested in Spanish football teams.

In February, Ronaldo bought a 25 percent stake in Almeria, while Messi took control of UE Cornella last week.

So who are these teams, what do the investments mean, what are their goals and can Almeria and UE Cornella play against each other? Daily Mail Sports takes a look…

Who did Messi and Ronaldo invest in?

Messi’s new club, UE Cornella, is located in Catalonia, the autonomous region where Barcelona is located.

They play in the semi-professional Tercera Federaction, the fifth tier of Spanish football, but spent 10 seasons in the third tier from 2014 to 2024.

With the Camp Municipal de Cornella stadium having a capacity of just 1,500, it’s a much smaller stage than Messi may be used to.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo has stepped higher up the pyramid with Almeria.

They are currently third in the Segunda Division and are fighting to return to LaLiga after eight seasons in LaLiga since 2007.

It starts from a much higher base and Almeria’s ground has a capacity of 17,400.

Messi invested in fifth division team UE Cornella. The capacity of its grounds is only 1,500 people

Why did they invest and what are their goals?

Ronaldo’s investment in Almeria strengthens ties with Saudi Arabia as the club is 75 percent owned by an investment consortium in the kingdom led by Mohammed Al-Khereiji, who played a key role in his transfer to Al-Nassr.

The club was previously owned by Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority.

Ronaldo’s move is also a result of long-standing ownership ambitions. He expressed this desire in December 2024, explaining that he knew how to fix structural flaws in some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Manchester United.

‘I said this a year and a half ago and I will continue to say it: the problem is not with the coaches,’ he said when discussing United’s struggles. ‘It’s like an aquarium. If your fish are indoors and sick and you take them out, fix the problem, and put them back in a tank, they will be sick again.

‘Manchester United’s problem is the same. The problem is not always the coach. It’s much more than that. ‘If I become the owner of the club, I will make everything clear and fix the things that I think are bad there.’

This came after he said, ‘I’m not a coach.’ Will I never be able to be the coach or president of the club? No. Maybe he owns the club. It will depend on the moment and the right opportunities.’

When he went a little further he added: ‘But mark my words, I will be the owner of a big club. Definitely.’

Ronaldo also saw this as an opportunity to diversify his business portfolio and continue his ties to football beyond his playing career.

The 41-year-old is impressed by Almeria’s strong foundations and believes the club has the potential to grow and gain promotion to LaLiga.

While Ronaldo is expected to strengthen Almeria’s commercial profile and attract international attention, he wants to help the club’s development across the first team and academy.

Ronaldo will significantly increase Almeria’s global profile and wants to help them grow

Ronaldo has previously talked about becoming a club owner and hinted he would do so at Man United.

Messi is similarly keen to help Cornella move up the Spanish pyramid, but the move strengthens his close ties with Barcelona and the club’s stadium is just five miles from Camp Nou.

The news announcing the arrival of the Argentinian footballer also mentioned his ‘commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia’.

He later added: ‘Leo Messi’s arrival marks the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history, aimed at promoting both sporting and institutional growth, strengthening its foundations and continuing to invest in talent.

‘The project is guided by a long-term vision and a strategic plan that combines ambition, sustainability and a strong connection to its local roots.’

Although Messi has not spoken publicly since his investment was announced, Cornella’s strong infrastructure and the opportunity to develop young talent in Catalonia appear to be attractive.

There is also a desire to improve the club on and off the pitch through a long-term approach, given that the club has previously been higher up the pyramid.

Both players already have ownership in other clubs (Messi has a stake in Inter Miami and Ronaldo has a 15 percent stake in Al-Nassr) and follow the wider trend of footballers moving into ownership after retirement.

Messi’s investment is a nod to his Barcelona roots after joining the club at the age of 13.

Do these sides have any notable former players?

Yes, there is a lot of pedigree when looking at the alumni of each team.

For Cornella, this was mostly in the youth teams; Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya played in their system before moving to England to join Blackburn Rovers at the age of 16.

Barcelona legend Jordi Alba also spent two years at the club between 2005 and 2007, before being sold to Valencia for €6,000 (£5,216).

Keita Balde, who played for teams such as Monaco, Inter Milan and Senegal, was a highly rated product in the Barcelona system.

However, due to disciplinary problems, he was sent on loan to Cornella and scored 47 goals in one season in the youth team until he was sold to Lazio.

Almeria have a similar positive record, but this often includes their first team stars.

Tottenham assistant coach and former Brighton stalwart Bruno spent three years at the club, while former Manchester City star Alvaro Negredo moved to Real Madrid following his success at Almeria.

Meanwhile, names such as Darwin Nunez, former West Ham player Sofiane Feghouli and former Brighton and QPR striker Tomer Hemed also served at the club.

David Raya is among the important names trained in the club owned by Messi.

Darwin Nunez is one of several former Premier League stars to play for Almeria (Photo taken while working in 2020, two years before his big-money move to Liverpool)

Can they face each other in a match?

While it’s unlikely right now, it’s a possibility. There is a three-league gap between the two teams and while a potentially eye-popping pre-season friendly could be on the table, Almeria may question how useful it would be, but it would certainly generate interest nonetheless.

Given their involvement and ambition, both will have hopes of progressing through the leagues, meaning a Wrexham-style rise for Messi’s side is out of the question, although it will require three promotions and no further progress is expected from Ronaldo’s Almeria.

They have a chance to meet in the Copa del Rey, but Cornella failed to even qualify for the preliminary rounds of the competition this season.

Messi hopes this will one day change as these two great players of today start planning their lives beyond their playing careers.