World Cup 2018: 5 pairs of clubmates who will go head-to-head in the group stage

TOPSHOT-FBL-EUR-C1-REAL MADRID — Friends to Foes!

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid CF v Club Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League Semi Final: First Leg — Sergio Ramos won't be cheering if Cristiano Ronaldo scores against Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos inspired Real Madrid to a third consecutive UEFA Champions League a few days ago, but the two will be going up against each other when Portugal and Spain go head-to-head on the 15th of June.

After a triumphant UEFA Euro campaign in 2016, Ronaldo will be leading the Portugal side at Russia. The fans will be hoping that the 33-year-old brings his A-game to the tournament as his form is going to be crucial in deciding the team's fate in the World Cup.

Ronaldo's teammate Ramos will be wearing the captain's armband for his nation and will be leading the team from the back. The 32-year-old was a part of Spain's 2010 World Cup winning squad and will be aspiring to a part of yet another victorious squad. La Furia Roja is one of the early favorites to go home with the trophy.

Ronaldo and Ramos being attacker and defender respectively, it is going to be an exciting player to watch out for in the group stages of the World Cup.

Which of these clubmates are you excited to see play against each other? Tell us in the comments below!

About the author

Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.

Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.

He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.

When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.

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Edited by Raunak J