Recently, on Reddit, a post appeared suggesting that Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James’ NBA career will outlast Skype. The reasoning? It was just confirmed that Microsoft will shut down Skype on May 5, 2025, after 21 years of service. The software giant first launched Skype in August 2003, while LeBron James was “first launched into the NBA”—or rather, selected as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft on June 26, 2003.
Taking inspiration from that comparison, we turn to the world of soccer, where two of the modern game’s greatest figures have defied time: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The question now arises—with Skype shutting down, will Ronaldo and Messi still be playing?
Microsoft says goodbye to Skype, but Ronaldo plays on
Skype, once a revolutionary tool for online communication, will soon be consigned to history. Microsoft’s decision to retire Skype marks the end of an era for digital communication. Yet, in a remarkable testament to endurance, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy time, still playing at the highest level.
Ronaldo, who made his professional debut for Sporting Lisbon on August 14, 2002, is still playing top-flight soccer in 2025—more than 22 years later. This means that his professional career predates Skype itself by over a year, and will continue even after the application ends.
The Portuguese’s career has spanned multiple generations, seeing him dominate for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr. Even at 40 years old, he remains an active professional player, continuing to break records and prove his longevity.
As Skype grew and connected millions worldwide, the superstar continued rewriting records. By the time Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011, Ronaldo had already won his first Champions League title and was dominating La Liga. The years that followed saw him claim multiple UEFA Champions League crowns, five Ballon d’Or awards, and countless records for his clubs.
Fast forward to 2025, and while Skype is being discontinued, the iconic CR7 is still playing professionally in the Saudi Pro League, with his Al-Nassr contract extending until June 2025. Thus, Cristiano Ronaldo’s professional career will have outlasted Skype’s existence when May 2025 rolls around—a fantastic monument to his devotion and physical condition. It’s only a matter of “when,” not ‘if’.
Is Lionel Messi close behind?
So, what about Lionel Messi, could he also outlast Skype? The Argentine superstar has followed a similar trajectory, making his official senior debut for Barcelona on October 16, 2004, a little over a year after Skype launched. That puts him behind both Skype and Ronaldo in terms of career longevity, but his journey has been just as legendary.
From his early days as a teenage sensation under Frank Rijkaard to becoming Barcelona’s all-time top scorer, the Argentine’s career has been defined by genius and longevity. By the time he won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, Skype was already a global name, and Microsoft’s purchase of the platform in 2011 coincided with Messi’s peak years at Camp Nou.
Even as technology evolved, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner remained a constant in soccer, leading the Blaugrana to UEFA Champions League triumphs and setting records for goals in a calendar year (91 in 2012). His dramatic 2022 World Cup victory with Argentina solidified his place as one of the greatest of all time.
In 2023, he made the surprising move to Inter Miami, bringing global attention to MLS. Despite recent rumors of a potential farewell looming and a return to his boyhood club, Barcelona, the veteran is tied to the Florida-based side until December 2025. Since he has extended his career well into his late 30s, there is no uncertainty about whether he will play beyond Skype’s official shutdown this May.