Cristiano Ronaldo has hailed his longtime adversary Lionel Messi in a tribute to the Argentinian icon, who bid a grand farewell to international football. The Portuguese forward wrote the message in response to Messi’s social media post on Wednesday, a day after Argentina’s friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires, where the local idol and global icon bid an emotional goodbye. The careers of Messi and Ronaldo followed a similar trajectory and crossed paths for many years in club and international football.
It resulted in a hotly contested rivalry, mostly between the two players’ supporters over the past two decades. The pair dominated the sport for more than 15 years, winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or award 13 times between them. Their rivalry grew over the nine years in which they faced off against each other in Spain, with Messi starring for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid.
Messi, 39, announced his retirement from international football after leading his country to the World Cup final in July in the United States, where the 2022 champions were runners-up behind Spain. I know I’m making the right decision,” Messi said in a lengthy message a day after his final match in the famous number 10 blue and white shirt. Messi captained Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024, while also helping them win the 2022 Finalissima.
I love you all very much; I’m going to miss you, and I will always thank you for having been by our side, by my side,” the Inter Miami playmaker added. Messi and Ronaldo have vied for recognition as the greatest player of their generation throughout their illustrious careers. The 41-year-old Portuguese forward was among the hundreds of thousands who responded to Messi’s post.
Messi’s final game came the same day Ronaldo apologised for his controversial departure from the Portuguese national team’s camp after a fallout with coach Jorge Jesus. It remains unclear whether Ronaldo will play for his country again, despite his apology for walking out, which leaves the door open to a return. Messi and Ronaldo last met on the pitch in an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia in January 2023, when they took fans back in time to the heyday of their storied rivalry, as both forwards got on the scoresheet.
Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr, was part of a Riyadh Season Team that took on Messi’s then-club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Extract — continue reading at the source.
