Cristiano Ronaldo pays tribute to Lionel Messi after Argentina farewell

What the report says

Cristiano Ronaldo posted a public tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentine star said farewell to international football, according to Al Jazeera. Ronaldo’s message came in reply to Messi’s social media post following Argentina’s friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires, where Messi appeared to bid an emotional goodbye to the national team. Ronaldo wrote that he had “utmost respect” for Messi’s achievements with Argentina and said Messi’s long service had made history.

Al Jazeera reported that the two players have been central figures in world football for more than 15 years, with their careers intertwined through club and international competition. Messi, who is 39, announced that he was ending his international career after a period that included Argentina’s 2022 World Cup title and Copa America wins in 2021 and 2024. In the match referenced by Al Jazeera, Argentina won 3-0 in front of a large crowd at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium, with Messi scoring once and assisting the other goals.

The tribute highlights the rare public respect between two athletes whose rivalry has long shaped debate over the game’s greatest player. Al Jazeera added that the pair have met often in Spain, where Messi played for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid, and that they last faced each other in an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The development matters because it closes another chapter in one of football’s defining rivalries while marking Messi’s exit from international duty.