diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index d1f3505..26789b7 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -66,15 +66,17 @@
           </div>
 
           <div class="game-info">
-            <div class="turn-indicator">
-              <span class="label" id="turnLabel">Current Turn:</span>
-              <div class="player-display">
-                <span class="player-marker" id="currentPlayer">X</span>
+            <div class="status-container">
+              <div class="turn-indicator">
+                <span class="label" id="turnLabel">Current Turn:</span>
+                <div class="player-display">
+                  <span class="player-marker" id="currentPlayer">X</span>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+              <div class="status-divider"></div>
+              <div class="status-text" id="statusMessage">
+                Player X starts the game
               </div>
-            </div>
-            
-            <div class="status-message" id="statusMessage">
-              Player X starts the game
             </div>
 
             <div class="score-display">
diff --git a/multiplayer.js b/multiplayer.js
index 28c69b5..d8de4b7 100644
--- a/multiplayer.js
+++ b/multiplayer.js
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ class MultiplayerClient {
         document.getElementById('multiplayerPanel').style.display = 'none';
         document.getElementById('gameControls').style.display = 'grid';
         document.querySelector('.board-wrapper').style.display = 'flex';
-        document.getElementById('statusMessage').style.display = 'block';
+        // status container is part of gameControls now
         
         // Set board size
         document.querySelectorAll('.size-btn').forEach(btn => {
@@ -387,13 +387,15 @@ class MultiplayerClient {
         }
         
         // Update status
-        const status = document.getElementById('statusMessage');
+        const statusText = document.getElementById('statusMessage'); // This is the status-text element
+        const statusContainer = statusText.parentElement; // This is the status-container element
+
         if (this.myTurn) {
-            status.textContent = `🎮 VS ${this.opponent} | YOUR TURN - You're playing as ${this.mySymbol}`;
-            status.className = 'status-message success';
+            statusText.textContent = `🎮 VS ${this.opponent} | YOUR TURN - You're playing as ${this.mySymbol}`;
+            statusContainer.className = 'status-container success';
         } else {
-            status.textContent = `🎮 VS ${this.opponent} | Waiting for ${this.opponent} to move - You're playing as ${this.mySymbol}`;
-            status.className = 'status-message info';
+            statusText.textContent = `🎮 VS ${this.opponent} | Waiting for ${this.opponent} to move - You're playing as ${this.mySymbol}`;
+            statusContainer.className = 'status-container info';
         }
         
         console.log(`✅ Game started! You are ${this.mySymbol}, ${this.myTurn ? 'your turn' : 'waiting'}`);
@@ -504,7 +506,10 @@ class MultiplayerClient {
         const messageEl = document.getElementById('statusMessage');
         if (messageEl) {
             messageEl.textContent = text;
-            messageEl.className = `status-message ${type}`;
+            // Apply class to the container, not the text element
+            if (messageEl.parentElement.classList.contains('status-container')) {
+                 messageEl.parentElement.className = `status-container ${type}`;
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/styles.css b/styles.css
index 063a7e6..09c426e 100644
--- a/styles.css
+++ b/styles.css
@@ -433,28 +433,50 @@ body {
 }
 
 /* Status Message */
-.status-message {
-  text-align: center;
+/* Merged Status Container */
+.status-container {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 1.5rem;
   padding: 1rem;
   background: var(--bg-tertiary);
   border-radius: 12px;
   border: 1px solid var(--border-light);
-  color: var(--text-secondary);
-  font-weight: 600;
-  font-size: 1rem;
   width: 100%;
 }
 
-.status-message.success {
-  border-color: var(--success);
-  color: var(--success);
-  background: rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.1);
+.status-divider {
+  width: 1px;
+  height: 24px;
+  background: var(--border-light);
 }
 
-.status-message.info {
+.status-text {
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  font-weight: 600;
+  font-size: 1rem;
+  flex: 1;
+  text-align: left;
+}
+
+/* Status variants applied to the container */
+.status-container.success {
+  border-color: var(--success);
+  background: rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.05);
+}
+
+.status-container.success .status-text {
+  color: var(--success);
+}
+
+.status-container.info {
   border-color: var(--accent-secondary);
+  background: rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.05);
+}
+
+.status-container.info .status-text {
   color: var(--accent-secondary);
-  background: rgba(56, 189, 248, 0.1);
 }
 
 /* Victory Overlay */