Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, has paid tribute to Argentine football icon Lionel Messi following the latter’s final appearance for his country.
Messi bowed out of international football on Tuesday after scoring and providing two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old, who spent more than two decades representing Argentina, described the occasion as “the saddest day of my career” after bringing his international journey to an end.
Ronaldo responded to Messi’s Instagram post announcing his farewell with a message acknowledging the Argentine’s remarkable achievements with his country.
“Leo, so many years defending your country and a story that will live on forever. You have all my respect for everything you’ve achieved with Argentina. A hug.”
The message was widely reported by Spanish media, with Marca noting the mutual respect that has developed between the two football greats despite their fierce rivalry over more than 15 years.
Messi announced his decision to retire from international football in August, following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
The tournament came during a difficult period for the forward following the illness and subsequent death of his father, Jorge Messi.
Messi leaves the Argentina team as the country’s record appearance holder with 208 caps and leading scorer with 126 goals.
He also captained the side to the 2022 World Cup triumph and Copa América titles.
Ronaldo and Messi have repeatedly shown admiration for each other in recent years, including Ronaldo’s message of support following the death of Messi’s father earlier this year.
With both stars now in the latter stages of their illustrious careers, Messi continues to play for Inter Miami, while Ronaldo remains with Al-Nassr.
