Soccer legends Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar are expected to play the final World Cup at the 2026 tournament

The 2026 World Cup is set to be the final tournament for legends Lionel Messi, who will turn 39, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, both of whom are now billionaires. The expanded 48-team event, hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, sees Ronaldo—the world's highest-paid athlete with $300M in annual earnings—seeking his first title. Messi, the defending champion, will be playing in a record sixth World Cup and chasing the all-time goal-scoring record.

2026 World Cup expansion format

• ▪The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first with 48 teams and the first to be held across three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico
• ▪The 2026 World Cup will be hosted in a record 16 cities across the three North American host nations

Highest-paid players earnings breakdown

• ▪Cristiano Ronaldo is the world's highest-paid athlete, with estimated earnings of $300 million over the past 12 months ($235M on-field, $65M off-field)
• ▪Lionel Messi's estimated earnings over the past 12 months are $140 million, split evenly between $70 million on-field and $70 million off-field
• ▪Kylian Mbappé is the third highest-paid player at the World Cup, with estimated earnings of $95 million ($70M on-field, $25M off-field)

Ronaldo billionaire net worth

• ▪Cristiano Ronaldo has an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion and is the only athlete to surpass $2 billion in career earnings while still active
• ▪At age 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of only four active athletes to be considered a billionaire

Messi billionaire net worth

• ▪Lionel Messi has an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion, making him one of the world's billionaire athletes
• ▪Lionel Messi is featured in new 2026 World Cup marketing campaigns for sponsors including Adidas and Michelob Ultra

World Cup ticket pricing controversy

• ▪In April 2026, FIFA's official resale site listed four seats to the World Cup final for just under $2.3 million each
• ▪A ticket for the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium was listed by FIFA for $32,970

Player tournament records milestones

• ▪Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who will turn 41 during the tournament, has said he intends to retire from the national team after the World Cup
• ▪Lionel Messi already holds the record for the most World Cup matches played, with 26 appearances
• ▪Lionel Messi needs four more goals to surpass Miroslav Klose's record of 16 career World Cup goals
• ▪Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will "definitely" be his last international tournament
• ▪Neymar, 34, was a surprise inclusion in Brazil's squad after struggling with fitness and is expected to serve as a substitute
• ▪Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be 41 during the tournament, has never scored a goal in the knockout stage of a World Cup
• ▪Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa will each appear at a record-breaking sixth men's World Cup