The "One Last Dance" story is progressing the way it should be. After an initial disappointment, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace against Uzbekistan to become Portugal's most successful player in FIFA World Cups.
The goals, which came on Lionel Messi's 39th birthday, also made him the first man to score in six editions of the tournament! The Al-Nassr star scored in the sixth and 39th minutes to join an elite list of players to manage braces in the tournament — which include the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland who have scored two or more goals in a match this month
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Ronaldo ending the goal drought brings the focus back to a possible face-off of the GOATs. What are the odds of Portugal taking on Argentina in one of the knockout games? Do their paths meet before the semi-finals or finals?
To ensure a balanced tournament, FIFA placed top-seeded teams on opposite sides of the knockout pathways. Yet it is quite possible that a Messi-Ronaldo clash could take place in the Round of 16. Argentina have already secured first place in Group J, while Portugal are currently second in Group K. To top the group, they will have to defeat Colombia in their last group-stage encounter on June 28, Sunday.
Argentina will be going into Match 86 in the Round of 32. If Roberto Martínez's team beat Colombia to win Group K, they will go into Match 87 in the Round of 32. And if both teams manage to get past their respective opponents, their paths could converge in Quarter-final Match 100, which is set to be held in Kansas City.
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However, if Portugal fail to see off Colombia, Ronaldo's team could end up in an entirely different knockout lane. Meaning, a second-place group-stage finish by the European side could result in their contest against La Albiceleste being pushed to a semi-final or even the final, depending on other results.
