Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi reunion unlikely to happen when Juventus play Barcelona

Posted Wednesday, October 14, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk

The Juventus forward tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty for Portugal this week

Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to miss the much-anticipated reunion with Lionel Messi after contracting coronavirus this week.

The Juventus superstar tested positive while on international duty with Portugal and will now be forced to self-isolate.

Despite being asymptomatic, the 35-year-old will be forced to sit out the Serie A clash with Crotone this weekend, before missing Juve’s Champions League opener against Dynamo Kiev on October 20.

And Goal report that Ronaldo’s participation in the October 28 clash with Barcelona is also in major doubt.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi reunion unlikely to happen when Juventus play Barcelona
Ronaldo has played in both games for Portugal during the international break (Image: REUTERS)

According to UEFA’s protocols he must be Covid-free for at least one week before the fixture.

Ronaldo had played in both of Portugal’s fixtures during the international break, but will miss their final game against Sweden on Wednesday night.

The Portugal Football Federation confirmed that the rest of Fernando Santos’ team had tested negative and would be available for selection.

The statement read: "Cristiano Ronaldo was released from training with the national team after a positive test for Covid-19, so he will not face Sweden.

"The Portugal international is doing well, without symptoms, and in isolation.

"Following the positive case, the remaining players underwent new tests this Tuesday morning, all with a negative result, and are available to Fernando Santos for training this afternoon, in Cidade do Futebol.”

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi reunion unlikely to happen when Juventus play Barcelona
Messi and Ronaldo were due for their first meeting since 2018

The Champions League Group G match against Barcelona was due to be the first meeting between Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, since the former left Real Madrid in 2018.

On the pitch, it’s a rivalry that has seen the two play against each other 35 times in a ten-year stretch between 2008 and 2018.

Messi has had the edge in the pair’s previous fixtures, winning 14 of the 30 El Clasico’s played between the two players that have a staggering 11 Balon d’Ors between them.