The last time Cristiano Ronaldo faced Lionel Messi in an international football match was back in November. 2014 when both Argentina and Portugal played an international friendly at Old Trafford.
There were no major shocks in Roberto Martinez's squad selection, with João Cancelo the only notable absentee due to injury from the group named in September.
Portugal, under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, have made a strong start to their qualification campaign, securing dominant victories over Armenia and Hungary.
Ronaldo completed his hat-trick for Al Nassr vs Rio Ave in the 68th minute on August 7, confidently converting from the spot before being substituted to a warm reception.
With the 40-year-old guaranteed to play till 42, this means that the fans' wish to see him don the Portugal shirt in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 still has a very high possibility of happening.
Introduced in the 2018-19 season, the Nations League was designed by UEFA to replace many of the traditional international friendlies, aiming to create more competitive and meaningful fixtures.
Roberto Martínez is expected to stick largely with the same lineup that secured victory over Germany earlier in the week, though Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha is likely to start tonight.
Speaking respectfully about his young counterpart, Ronaldo added: "He's performing brilliantly for both club and country. I hope the pressure is eased on him so fans can enjoy watching him grow.'
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will be up against a youthful Spain side who played out a dramatic tie against France last night, beating them 5-4 in the semi-final clash in Stuttgart.
The two teams last met competitively during the UEFA EURO 2020 group stage, where Germany emerged victorious with a 4-2 win, also at the Munich Football Arena.
The change will officially take effect in UEFA competitions starting Wednesday, as Germany faces Portugal in the UEFA Nations League semi-final in Munich.
Both nations have displayed strong form throughout the tournament, with Germany showcasing their trademark tactical discipline and Portugal bringing flair, pace, and power to the field.
The tournament kicks off in Munich on Thursday (India time) with hosts Germany facing Portugal, followed by title holders Spain meeting France in Stuttgart on Friday (India time)
UEFA Nations League quarterfinals HIGHLIGHTS: Ronaldo and Mbappe failed to score in the first leg. The second leg of QF will take place on March 24 at 1:15 AM (India time)
This is the first-ever FIFA World Cup which will see 48 teams feature in the competition and three host countries (Canada, Mexico and USA) co-hosting the event.
