Cristiano Ronaldo sent a moving message to Lionel Messi following the Argentine star’s final match for his national team, putting their historic rivalry aside to celebrate his greatest opponent’s achievements in the Albiceleste shirt.
Messi posted a lengthy message on his Instagram account after drawing the curtain on a 21-year international career, prompting Ronaldo to appear among hundreds of thousands of commenters to address the Argentina captain directly.
“Leo, so many years defending your country, and a story that will live forever. Huge respect for what you achieved with Argentina… a big hug,” wrote the Portugal captain.
Messi played his final international match against Benin at the El Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, leading Argentina to a 3-0 victory by scoring from the penalty spot and assisting the other two goals. The occasion featured a grand celebration attended by stars from Argentina’s 1978, 1986, and 2022 World Cup-winning squads.
The 39-year-old concluded his international career with 208 caps, 126 goals, and 70 assists—all record figures for the Argentine national team. His international honors include the 2022 World Cup, two Copa América titles, and the Finalissima. In his sixth World Cup appearance, he reached the 2026 final before falling to Spain.
Ronaldo’s message holds special significance given the rivalry that defined the pair for over two decades, reaching its pinnacle during their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona between 2009 and 2018, when they shared most individual honors and major trophies while lighting up El Clásico.
Messi won the Ballon d’Or eight times compared to Ronaldo’s five, but both stars have repeatedly emphasized that their rivalry elevated each other’s game, maintaining that their debate remained purely sporting despite endless fan arguments over the title of the greatest player of all time.
While both Ronaldo and Messi continue playing at the club level, the Argentine’s international retirement closes one of football’s most iconic chapters—especially after the duo shared the record for appearing in six World Cup tournaments—with the Portugal captain’s message providing a final touch of mutual respect to Messi’s farewell.
