Tarpishchev's Take on Messi and Ronaldo
Shamil Tarpishchev, who heads the Russian Tennis Federation and serves on the International Olympic Committee, has declared that neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo is fit for the 2026 World Cup. Tarpishchev, currently under Ukrainian sanctions, previously made an unauthorized trip to annexed Crimea.
Messi, now 38, led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup and is set to appear in his sixth tournament. Meanwhile, Ronaldo, who has never won a World Cup with Portugal, will also be competing for the sixth time. Tarpishchev offered his blunt assessment:
“Messi and Ronaldo are no longer fully alive. I expect nothing from them.” - Shamil Tarpishchev
2026 World Cup Participants and Group Draw
All teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been confirmed, along with the official group stage lineup. Ukraine fell to Sweden 1–3 in the playoff semifinal, with Ponomarenko scoring in the 90+1 minute and Gyökeres netting a hat trick at 6, 51, and 72 minutes.
The 2026 World Cup groups are as follows:
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic.
- Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland.
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.
- Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey.
- Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador.
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia.
- Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.
- Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
- Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway.
- Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.
- Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia.
- Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.
The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to the Round of 32.
Tarpishchev's remarks fuel ongoing debates about age limits and the readiness of veteran players for top-tier international competition. Given that both Messi and Ronaldo boast extensive experience on the global stage, their participation in the 2026 World Cup will be a major draw for fans and could solidify their legacies in football history. At the same time, Ukraine's failure to qualify adds another layer of context to Tarpishchev's comments.
As discussions around player performance intensify, the recent match where Sweden eliminated Ukraine from World Cup contention adds further context to Tarpishchev's comments. The outcome not only impacted Ukraine's aspirations but also underscores the shifting dynamics of international football leading up to the 2026 tournament.