Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a heartfelt message to Lionel Messi following his emotional farewell from international football. Messi's final appearance for Argentina was a 3-0 victory over Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, attended by over 85,000 supporters. Ronaldo responded directly to Messi's farewell post on Instagram, expressing his respect for the Argentine superstar's achievements.
Messi's farewell performance was decisive, scoring from the penalty spot and providing two assists. This took his Argentina record to 208 appearances and 126 goals, solidifying his position as the country's most-capped player and leading goalscorer. Messi leaves the national team having achieved significant international success, including the 2021 Copa America title, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Ronaldo's message carries considerable significance, given the long-standing rivalry between the two football stars. For over 15 years, Messi and Ronaldo have been constantly compared, with their supporters divided over which player deserves to be regarded as the greatest of all time. Ronaldo's tribute offers a rare moment of mutual recognition between two players whose careers have been measured against each other.
The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo has been sustained for a long period at the highest level, with their battles in La Liga, Champions League, and individual records constantly being compared. Their supporters have often used statistics to prove that their preferred player is superior, but the two men themselves have generally shown greater respect for each other.
Messi has published an emotional message thanking his family, teammates, coaches, clubs, and supporters, while remembering the late Argentine legend Diego Maradona. He expressed that he already misses wearing Argentina's famous blue-and-white shirt and remains convinced that retiring from international football was the right decision.
Ronaldo's international career is currently surrounded by controversy, with a recent dispute with coach Jorge Jesus over his involvement in Portugal's Nations League matches. The Portugal captain claimed that promises made to him regarding playing time and fitness management were broken, and disputed the way the coach publicly explained the situation.
The contrast between Messi's carefully framed farewell and Ronaldo's current situation has prompted former England striker Gary Lineker to argue that Ronaldo deserves a farewell comparable to Messi's. Whether Ronaldo gets that opportunity remains uncertain, with his own future with Portugal uncertain.
Key points
- Cristiano Ronaldo sent a heartfelt message to Lionel Messi following his international farewell.
- Messi's farewell performance was decisive, scoring and assisting twice in a 3-0 victory over Benin.
- Ronaldo's international career is currently surrounded by controversy, with a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus.
