Cristiano Ronaldo touched down in Manchester on Sunday evening ahead of his much-anticipated return to Old Trafford - a match that will see the Real Madrid star go head-to-head with Ballon d'Or rival Lionel Messi. Wearing a red Michael Jordan Nike baseball hat with the words 'Born and Bred' on the front, Ronaldo arrived in Manchester with his Portugal team-mates where they face Argentina in a friendly at Old Trafford on Tuesday night and the Real Madrid forward is most certainly the star attraction. The former Manchester United ace will make just his second appearance at his former stomping ground since leaving for Madrid in 2009 - and the presence of Barcelona's Messi means there will be a mouthwatering clash in prospect. Cristiano Ronaldo (right) arrives at Manchester Airport on Sunday night escorted by police and mobbed by autograph hunters . The Real Madrid and Portugal star (right), signing autographs as police look on, will return to Old Trafford for just the second time . Ronaldo (right), escorted by police as he leaves Manchester Airport, will play for Portugal against Argentina at Old Trafford on Tuesday . Lionel Messi takes in tea as a standard looking recovery session begins on his left leg . Messi poses with Argentina team-mates Javier Mascherano (left) and Angel di Maria, who will play at his home stadium . Ronaldo, as he so often does, got Portugal out of a rather sticky hole on Friday when he scored the winner with just 18 minutes remaining against Armenia to ensure his nation remain in the hunt for qualification for the 2016 European Championship in France. That goal also brought Ronaldo yet another record. With that solitary strike, Ronaldo moved ahead of former Newcastle United, AC Milan and Denmark forward Jon Dahl Tomasson on to 23 goals in the European Championship, ensuring he is now the leading scorer in the competition's history (qualifying and tournament combined). In what will be the 27th meeting between Ronaldo and Messi - who will make his second appearance on English soil in five days after starring in Argentina's 2-1 victory over Croatia at Upton Park last Thursday - English fans are sure to be dazzled by some remarkable skill. Ronaldo became the highest scorer in European Championship history with his goal against Armenia, beating Jon Dahl Tomasson . The Real Madrid superstar will head for Manchester this week when Portugal take on Argentina at Old Trafford . Messi (right) scored from the penalty spot to help Argentina to a 2-1 win over Croatia at Upton Park last week . Ronaldo shares a brief word with Portugal manager Fernando Santos at the training session in Lisbon . The Real Madrid star will want to be in peak condition when he meets his arch rival Messi at Old Trafford . Ronaldo warmed up with some lunges before Portugal's training session on Sunday . The Portugal captain takes a bit of a break mid-session but there will be no time for rest on Tuesday evening . Like Ronaldo, Messi stepped up when his nation needed him most and converted the winning penalty to complete a comeback victory for Argentina against Croatia on a night when Carlos Tevez made his return to the home of West Ham United. But the little maestro looked relaxed as he sat on a treatment table during a recovery session in Manchester, sipping tea and talking to a friend. He also posed for a photo with team-mates Javier Mascherano and Angel di Maria - who will play in extremely familiar surroundings on Tuesday. In the 27 meetings between Ronaldo and Messi to date, the former has won seven and the latter 12, with eight draws in the other matches. Neither will want to add a further blot to their copy book on Tuesday as they go in search of supremacy in their seemingly never-ending battle to be the world's best footballer. Messi and his Argentina team-mates trained at Manchester City's Carrington base on Saturday . Messi trains with the Argentina team at Manchester City's Carrington Training Centre on Saturday . The Argentina side leave their hotel in Manchester city centre to travel to Manchester City's training complex . Fans hold up a Barcelona shirt printed with Messi's name and scramble to get photographs with the star . One young fan gets up close as he is held up to get a special picture with the Barcelona and Argentina forward . Former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez returned to his old club's training ground with Argentina . Messi, who has been the centre of attention in England, looked relaxed as he trained at Carrington . Manchester City's Martin Demichelis, in familiar jokes with Di Maria (left) as Tevez trains ahead of the Portugal clash .
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will go up against one another when Portugal face Argentina on Tuesday .
The friendly match will take place in Manchester at Old Trafford and will see Ronaldo return to his former ground .
It will be only the second time since he left Manchester United in 2009 that Ronaldo will have played at Old Trafford .
They have faced each other 27 times - Ronaldo's team winning seven times and Messi's 12 .
Cristiano Ronaldo touched down in Manchester on Sunday evening ahead of his much-anticipated return to Old Trafford - a match that will see the Real Madrid star go head-to-head with Ballon d'Or rival Lionel Messi. Wearing a red Michael Jordan Nike baseball hat with the words 'Born and Bred' on the front, Ronaldo arrived in Manchester with his Portugal team-mates where they face Argentina in a friendly at Old Trafford on Tuesday night and the Real Madrid forward is most certainly the star attraction. The former Manchester United ace will make just his second appearance at his former stomping ground since leaving for Madrid in 2009 - and the presence of Barcelona's Messi means there will be a mouthwatering clash in prospect. Cristiano Ronaldo (right) arrives at Manchester Airport on Sunday night escorted by police and mobbed by autograph hunters . The Real Madrid and Portugal star (right), signing autographs as police look on, will return to Old Trafford for just the second time . Ronaldo (right), escorted by police as he leaves Manchester Airport, will play for Portugal against Argentina at Old Trafford on Tuesday . Lionel Messi takes in tea as a standard looking recovery session begins on his left leg . Messi poses with Argentina team-mates Javier Mascherano (left) and Angel di Maria, who will play at his home stadium . Ronaldo, as he so often does, got Portugal out of a rather sticky hole on Friday when he scored the winner with just 18 minutes remaining against Armenia to ensure his nation remain in the hunt for qualification for the 2016 European Championship in France. That goal also brought Ronaldo yet another record. With that solitary strike, Ronaldo moved ahead of former Newcastle United, AC Milan and Denmark forward Jon Dahl Tomasson on to 23 goals in the European Championship, ensuring he is now the leading scorer in the competition's history (qualifying and tournament combined). In what will be the 27th meeting between Ronaldo and Messi - who will make his second appearance on English soil in five days after starring in Argentina's 2-1 victory over Croatia at Upton Park last Thursday - English fans are sure to be dazzled by some remarkable skill. Ronaldo became the highest scorer in European Championship history with his goal against Armenia, beating Jon Dahl Tomasson . The Real Madrid superstar will head for Manchester this week when Portugal take on Argentina at Old Trafford . Messi (right) scored from the penalty spot to help Argentina to a 2-1 win over Croatia at Upton Park last week . Ronaldo shares a brief word with Portugal manager Fernando Santos at the training session in Lisbon . The Real Madrid star will want to be in peak condition when he meets his arch rival Messi at Old Trafford . Ronaldo warmed up with some lunges before Portugal's training session on Sunday . The Portugal captain takes a bit of a break mid-session but there will be no time for rest on Tuesday evening . Like Ronaldo, Messi stepped up when his nation needed him most and converted the winning penalty to complete a comeback victory for Argentina against Croatia on a night when Carlos Tevez made his return to the home of West Ham United. But the little maestro looked relaxed as he sat on a treatment table during a recovery session in Manchester, sipping tea and talking to a friend. He also posed for a photo with team-mates Javier Mascherano and Angel di Maria - who will play in extremely familiar surroundings on Tuesday. In the 27 meetings between Ronaldo and Messi to date, the former has won seven and the latter 12, with eight draws in the other matches. Neither will want to add a further blot to their copy book on Tuesday as they go in search of supremacy in their seemingly never-ending battle to be the world's best footballer. Messi and his Argentina team-mates trained at Manchester City's Carrington base on Saturday . Messi trains with the Argentina team at Manchester City's Carrington Training Centre on Saturday . The Argentina side leave their hotel in Manchester city centre to travel to Manchester City's training complex . Fans hold up a Barcelona shirt printed with Messi's name and scramble to get photographs with the star . One young fan gets up close as he is held up to get a special picture with the Barcelona and Argentina forward . Former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez returned to his old club's training ground with Argentina . Messi, who has been the centre of attention in England, looked relaxed as he trained at Carrington . Manchester City's Martin Demichelis, in familiar jokes with Di Maria (left) as Tevez trains ahead of the Portugal clash .
Cristiano Ronaldo touched down in Manchester on return to Old Trafford - a match that will see Argentina in a friendly at Old Trafford on Manchester United ace will make just his second appearance at his former stomping ground since Portugal against Argentina at Old Trafford on this week when Portugal take on Argentina at Old be no time for rest on Tuesday evening . Like the 27 meetings between Ronaldo and Messi to the Argentina team at Manchester City's