According to Marcelo Palacios of TyC Sports, Carlos Tevez will have his farewell match in December. Aiming to officially close his playing career, the former striker will host the event at La Bombonera before the end of the year. More than five years after his retirement, Tevez will finally receive his tribute on the pitch of Boca, his boyhood club.

The event is set to feature a lineup of global stars, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among those invited. In addition to sharing the pitch and forming lethal partnerships with both players — playing alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United and Messi with Argentina — Tevez is a close friend of both superstars. As a result, both are expected to attend the tribute match at La Bombonera, with the main attraction being the chance to see them on the same team.

Preparations underway

According to the report, Tevez has already spoken with Boca president Juan Roman Riquelme, who gave his approval for the match to take place at La Bombonera, the most iconic venue of Tevez’s career.

With Riquelme’s green light, the former player’s circle began organizing the details for an event expected to gather numerous stars from Argentine and international soccer.

The plan is to invite around 60 players who shared a squad with Tevez across the various stages of his extensive career. Choosing La Bombonera was essential given his history at the stadium, where he played 279 official matches, scored 94 goals, and delivered 56 assists.

During his time there, he won 11 titles, including international trophies such as the 2003 Copa Libertadores, 2003 Intercontinental Cup, and 2004 Copa Sudamericana. Domestically, he won the league title in 2003, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2020, as well as the 2015 Copa Argentina, 2018 Supercopa Argentina, and 2020 Copa de la Liga.

Unfinished business for Tevez

A proper farewell match remained unfinished business for Carlos Tevez since announcing his retirement in June 2022. His last official appearance came in a Boca shirt in 2021 before stepping away to evaluate his future.

After retiring as a player, Tevez transitioned into coaching. He managed Rosario Central, Independiente, and Talleres, which was his most recent managerial role before becoming available again.

Now, while waiting for a new opportunity to return to the bench, Tevez decided to move forward with the tribute match to formally close out one of the most decorated careers in Argentine soccer history.

These statistics could change, as Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to continue playing for Portugal. Two legends who have given 100% for their countries, and the end of an era that appears to be drawing near.

The reasons behind Messi’s decision

The latest defeat in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain was a major blow for Messi, who was later revealed to have played in the tournament while his father was in poor health. Following Jorge’s passing, the No. 10 felt that it was time to bring his career with La Albiceleste to an end, closing out a career filled with remarkable achievements.

That August 17, 2005, will forever be remembered in history as the date when Lionel Messi made his official debut for the Argentina national team. Twenty-one years later, his legacy will live on forever in the eyes of fans of this sport.

Ronaldo still wants more with Portugal

Although after Portugal’s 2026 World Cup exit Ronaldo said that it would be his final appearance in the tournament, he hasn’t retired from international duty yet. Therefore, CR7 is expected to join his teammates during the next FIFA international break.

It includes six matches, all of them corresponding to the UEFA Nations League. These are the final games the Portuguese national team will play in 2026:

• vs Wales, September 24
• at Norway, September 27
• at Denmark, October 1
• vs Norway, October 4
• vs Denmark, November 14
• at Wales, November 17

While Ronaldo confirmed that the 2030 World Cup was his last, he hasn’t retired from international duty yet. At 41, CR7 plans to continue representing his country in the upcoming international windows.

Ronaldo recently revealed this might be his final season playing professional soccer though, so his time with Portugal might be coming to an end as well. But unlike Messi, Ronaldo’s international career isn’t over yet.

Messi and Ronaldo’s international numbers

Both Messi and Ronaldo have left their mark on the international stage. While the Barcelona product is stepping away from Argentina with 207 caps and 125 goals to his name, the former Real Madrid star boasts 146 goals in 233 appearances for Portugal.

We’re talking about the only players in FIFA World Cup history to play in six different editions of the competition. Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ocha was also called up to six World Cups but, unlike Messi and Ronaldo, didn’t log minutes in each of those tournaments.

Messi and Ronaldo’s international trophies

While Ronaldo enjoyed international silverware before Messi by winning the 2016 UEFA Euro with Portugal, the Argentine star ended up surpassing CR7’s international titles.

Ronaldo added the 2019 and 2025 editions of the UEFA Nations League to his trophy cabinet, but Messi won the big one by leading Argentina to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022, apart from celebrating back-to-back Copa America triumphs (2021 and 2024), as well as the 2022 Finalissima. Additionally, Messi celebrated an Olympic gold medal in Beijing 2008 and the U-20 World Cup title in 2005.

On Ronaldo’s side, the forward currently has 131 official goals with Al-Nassr, having already surpassed the 100-goal mark for the club. The Portuguese striker recently scored against Al-Taawoun FC in the Saudi League, bringing his overall career total to 978 goals.

Messi is now on the verge of reaching the 100-club goal mark three years after joining Inter Miami in 2023, compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in 2022.

Near 1,000 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain locked in a historic scoring race, now with a remarkable target: 1,000 career goals. Ronaldo leads with 978 goals in 1,333 appearances, while Messi has reached 927 in 1,171 games following his four-goal performance for Inter Miami against Montreal.

The current gap between the two is 51 goals, although Ronaldo has also played 162 more matches than Messi. The Portuguese star is significantly closer to four figures, needing only 22 more goals, while the Argentine needs 73.

How many goals does Ronaldo need to reach 1,000?

Cristiano Ronaldo needs 22 more goals to reach 1,000 in his professional career. His latest goal came on Friday for Al-Nassr against Al-Taawoun FC in the Saudi Pro League, taking his total to 978. Of the two superstars, Ronaldo is currently much closer to reaching the four-digit milestone.

How many goals does Messi need to reach 1,000?

Lionel Messi needs another 73 goals to reach 1,000. The Argentine made a significant jump toward the milestone by scoring four times in Inter Miami‘s 7-1 MLS victory over Montreal. He also reached 74 from direct free kicks.

The last time Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals in a single match was on Feb. 9, 2023, during Al-Nassr FC’s 4-0 victory over Al Wehda in the Saudi Pro League—more than three years ago.

However, both players remain within reach of one of soccer’s greatest milestones: reaching 1,000 career goals, an achievement that would further cement their legacies in the sport.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s last four-goal performance

Ronaldo put Al Nassr—managed at the time by Rudi Garcia—ahead with a left-footed cross-shot before capitalizing on a pass into space to make it 2-0, putting together a masterclass in just 40 minutes before adding two more in the second half.

In the 21st minute against Al Wehda, Ronaldo controlled a pass in space from Ghareeb inside the box, finishing from a tight angle with his left foot to put Al-Nassr in front. In the 40th minute, Al Najei delivered another pass into space, sending Ronaldo one-on-one with goalkeeper Atiah. Ronaldo then secured the 2-0 lead, giving Garcia and his squad total control.

In the second half, a VAR review for a handball resulted in a penalty, giving Ronaldo the opportunity for his third goal, which he converted without mistake. To seal the match, Ronaldo added his fourth on another one-on-one opportunity against Atiah, scoring on his second attempt to make it 4-0 and complete a monumental performance in 61 minutes of play.

The race to 1,000 goals

Messi continues to close in on Ronaldo’s overall tally. The Portuguese forward currently sits at 978 career goals, while Messi’s four-goal outing brings him to 927 official goals in 1,170 matches. That leaves Messi just 73 goals shy of reaching the 1,000-goal mark that both legendary players share as a career target.

Ronaldo has worked under six managers at Al Nassr since joining the Saudi club in late December 2022. The Portuguese star currently plays under Ange Postecoglou, who arrived in July 2026.

On the Miami side, the Herons officially announced Gonzalez to replace Hoyos following a poor run of recent results. “Inter Miami CF announced today that it has reached an agreement with Cristian Alberto ‘Kily’ Gonzalez to become the club’s new first team head coach,” Inter Miami‘s official announcement read. “Gonzalez will officially assume his duties once he receives the corresponding work permits.”

Ronaldo’s managers at Al Nassr

Rudi Garcia (France) was the first manager of the Ronaldo era, serving from CR7’s arrival until April 2023. Dinko Jelicic (Croatia) then took over on an interim basis for the final stretch of the 2022-23 season, with neither manager securing a title for Al Nassr.

Luis Castro then led the team from the summer of 2023 until September 2024, capturing the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup. The victory delivered Ronaldo’s first trophy on Saudi soil, highlighted by his crucial two-goal performance in the final.

Stefano Pioli (Italy) took the reins in September 2024 through mid-2025 before making way for Jorge Jesus (Portugal), who arrived in July 2025 and won the Saudi Pro League. Postecoglou subsequently arrived to replace Jesus as the head coach.

Messi’s managers at Inter Miami

Messi arrived at Inter Miami under Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who guided the club to two trophies. Martino first won the 2023 Leagues Cup—the historic first title in franchise history, claimed just weeks after Messi’s debut in the United States—followed by the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, awarded for the league’s best regular-season record alongside the all-time MLS single-season points record.

Javier Mascherano, Messi’s former teammate with Barcelona and Argentina, succeeded Martino and brought home the 2025 MLS Cup. Miami claimed the league championship on Dec. 6, 2025, with a 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps in the final.

Guillermo Hoyos then took charge but departed without securing any silverware, opening the door for Gonzalez to become the club’s fourth head coach of the Messi era.

On the heels of a tense situation during Al Nassr’s last match—which manager Ange Postecoglou openly addressed—Cristiano once again proved his status as a pillar of the squad, making any thought of benching him going forward a far less viable option.

Although Ronaldo celebrated his team’s comeback after exiting the pitch facing a 2-0 deficit, speculation swirled regarding his rapport with Postecoglou. However, his latest goal effectively put any rumors of an internal rift to rest.

Al Nassr now shift focus to their upcoming fixtures as the club aims to maintain its grip on the top of the Saudi Pro League standings, a push bolstered significantly by this key victory.

Cristiano’s performance so far with Al Nassr

Following his World Cup campaign and an extended offseason break, Ronaldo rejoined the squad for the opening stretch of the Saudi Pro League season, compiling the following stats:

“Ronaldo is a special athlete. The plan was for him to play 45 minutes against Al-Ettifaq, after featuring for 30 minutes in the previous match. Gradually, he will work his way up to full match fitness. For now, I believe 45 minutes is the right limit until he’s fully back,” Postecoglou said during his pre-match press conference ahead of Friday’s fixture against Al Taawoun.

Ronaldo took to social media after the victory with three words to clear the air and keep spirits high within the squad despite his early exit. With the drama settled, supporters are eager to see if he will feature in Al Nassr‘s upcoming Saudi Pro League clash.

Meanwhile, Postecoglou is taking time to find the right tactical balance, recognizing that while Ronaldo works his way back to 100%, the team must rely on its depth to stay on track toward its ultimate goal: the Saudi Pro League title.

Postecoglou addresses Ronaldo’s reaction to first-half exit

While Cristiano projected calm on social media, he was visibly frustrated when taken off, a reaction Postecoglou addressed directly when discussing the star’s managed minute restriction moving forward.

“I understand Cristiano Ronaldo’s personality and his frustration during the Al-Ettifaq match. He was furious at halftime, but in the dressing room after the match, he was right there with the team leading the celebrations. Ronaldo is passionate, loves the game, and is fully committed to Al-Nassr,” Postecoglou said.

Despite the halftime exit, Ronaldo took to social media to show his support via an Instagram story featuring a photo of the squad embracing. “WHAT. A. COMEBACK,” Ronaldo posted, using three simple words to celebrate the win.

The comeback was delayed until the final minute, when Sadio Mane scored the third goal to overcome the two-goal deficit following a key assist from Sami Al-Najei.

Postecoglou’s tough decision

With the squad down to 10 men and trailing 2-0, Postecoglou made a decision few managers would attempt. Al Nassr first needed numerical parity on defense.

That requirement had nothing to do with Ronaldo’s goalscoring ability and everything to do with his position on the pitch, as he is a player who takes no part in the pressing and recovery phases.

Even with that explanation, the point still stands: This marks the first time this season that a coach, in a moment of genuine crisis, decided the route back into a match ran not through Ronaldo, but entirely without him.

Postecoglou demonstrated authority by making it clear that his priority is helping the team win and doing what is best for the group. “When I made the substitutions, including taking Ronaldo off, I believed the players coming on could make an impact,” Postecoglou said. “I came here to help the players, so as I said, I’m proud of them because every substitute made a positive contribution.”

Postecoglou made it clear that he is there to help the team, explaining the replacement of several stars, including Ronaldo. “When I made the substitutions, including taking Ronaldo off, I believed the players coming on could make an impact,” Postecoglou said. “I came here to help the players, so as I said, I’m proud of them because every substitute made a positive contribution.”

Ronaldo was substituted at halftime after being seen visibly upset while heading to the locker room, demanding more intensity from his teammates. The star forward was taken off with Al Nassr still trailing 2-0 on the scoreboard.

Dismal start for Al Nassr

Losing goalkeeper Bento to a red card left Al Nassr staring at a heavy defeat. Bento raced off his line and brought down Moussa Dembele, prompting the referee to brandish a straight red card.

Down to 10 men, Al Nassr made an emergency change as young goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Otaibi replaced Angelo to guard the net in a difficult early test. Al Ettifaq made the extra man count, pressing until Doda collected the ball on the edge of the box in the 31st minute and lashed it into the top corner past the backup keeper.

Deep into first-half stoppage time (45+3′), Alvaro Medran doubled the lead. Latching onto a pass from Yasser Al-Shammari, Medran unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box to send the hosts into the break up 2-0.

Postecoglou’s decisive changes

Chasing a comeback after the break, Al Nassr made a change by bringing on Abdullah Al-Khaibari for Ronaldo. Postecoglou later subbed off Kingsley Coman and Samu to bring in Sami Al-Najei and Al-Hamdan.

Inigo Martinez came within inches of pulling one back in the 53rd minute, only to see his shot strike the post. Al Ettifaq’s goalkeeper then repelled an effort from Joao Felix.

Joao Felix turned provider in the 74th minute, threading a pass through to Sadio Mane. The Senegalese striker burst into the box and drilled a right-footed finish into the far corner, hauling Al Nassr back into the contest. The equalizer followed in the 77th minute when Joao Felix swung in a corner that Abdulelah Al-Amri met from close range, burying his header to make it 2-2.

Then came the winner. Sami Al-Najei drove a rapid counter-attack in the 90th minute and slipped the ball to Mane, who fired home from the middle of the box to complete a historic comeback and snatch all three points.

Before entering the locker room, an unhappy Ronaldo was seen demanding more from his teammates as the squad faced a two-goal deficit heading into the break.

Beyond a tactical decision based on match flow, speculation suggests the move could also stem from a load management plan to protect the forward following his return from the 2026 World Cup. Still, the decision remains unusual considering how frustrated Ronaldo appeared before leaving the pitch.

In his postgame press conference, coach Ange Postecoglou addressed the decision to sub off Ronaldo before Al Nassr’s 3-2 comeback win.

Early red card alters game plan

Ronaldo earned the start in a match that quickly turned against his team, heavily conditioned by an early numerical disadvantage that derailed the original strategy.

A red card to Bento in the 12th minute forced the visiting squad to play with 10 men for nearly the entire first half. Al Ettifaq capitalized on the advantage, building a 2-0 lead before the break.

Bento’s ejection disrupted collective structure and increased the physical workload for the remaining players on the field. Seeking to adjust, the coaching staff opted to add presence in the midfield to restore balance and improve pressing — a tactical shift that likely prompted the substitution of Ronaldo, who offers the least defensive sacrifice on the roster.

Additional factors surrounding Ronaldo

Ronaldo only recently rejoined Al Nassr following the 2026 World Cup and is still working to regain match fitness. At 41, maintaining a continuous press is challenging, especially when a team must compensate for a man disadvantage. Adding to the difficulty, nighttime temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in Saudi Arabia increased the physical toll of an already challenging fixture.